OF THE POLAR SEA^ 163 



have proved fatal to every one in them. 

 The powder fortunately escaped the water, 

 which was soon discharged when we reached 

 the bottom of the rapid. At noon we per- 

 ceived Hepburn lying on the left bank of 

 the river, and landed immediately to receive 

 his information. As he represented the 

 water to be shoal the whole way to the 

 rapid, (below which the Esquimaux were,) 

 the shore party were directed to continue 

 their march to a sandy bay at the head of 

 the fall, and there await the arrival of the 

 canoes. The land in the neighbourhood of 

 the rapid is of the most singular form : 

 large irregular sand hills bounding both 

 banks, apparently so unconnected that they 

 resemble icebergs ; the country around them 

 consisting of high round green hills. The 

 river becomes wide in this part, and full of 

 shoals, but we had no difficulty in finding a 

 channel through them. On regaining the 

 shore party, we regretted to find that some 

 of the men had incautiously appeared on 

 the tops of the hills, just at the time 

 Augustus was conversing with one of the 

 m 2 



