OF THE POLAR SEA. 167 



cascade, about three hundred yards in 

 length, having a descent of from ten to fif- 

 teen feet. It is bounded on each side by 

 high walls of red sand-stone, upon which 

 rests a series of lofty green hills. On its 

 north side, close to the east bank, is the low 

 rocky island which the Esquimaux had 

 deserted. The surrounding scenery was 

 accurately delineated in a sketch taken by 

 Mr. Hood. We caught forty excellent 

 salmon and white fish in a single net below 

 the rapid. We had not seen any trees 

 during this day's journey ; our fuel consisted 

 of small willows and pieces of dried wood 

 that were picked up near the encampment. 

 The ground is well clothed with grass, and 

 nourishes most of the shrubs and berry- 

 bearing plants that we have seen north of 

 Fort Enterprise ; and the country altogether 

 has a richer appearance than the barren 

 lands of the Copper Indians. We had a 

 distinct view of the sea from the summit of 

 a hill behind the tents ; it appeared choked 

 with ice, and full of islands. 



On the morning of the 16th, three men 



