OF THE POLAR SEA. 193 



at a distance. A tide was distinguishable 

 among the islands by the foam floating on 

 the water, but we could not ascertain its 

 direction. In the afternoon St. Germain 

 killed on an island a fat deer, which was a 

 great acquisition to us ; it was the first we 

 had seen for some months in good condition. 



Having encamped on the main shore, 

 after a run of thirty-seven miles, we set up 

 a pole to ascertain the rise and fall of the 

 water, which was repeated at every halting- 

 place, and Hepburn was ordered to attend 

 to the result. We found the coast well 

 covered with vegetation, of moderate height, 

 even in its outline, and easy of approach. 

 The islands are rocky and barren, present- 

 ing high cliffs of a columnar structure. I 

 have named the westernmost group of those 

 we passed " Berens' Isles," in honour of the 

 Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company; 

 and the easternmost, " Sir Graham Moore's 

 Islands." At the spot where we landed 

 some muscle-shells and a single piece of 

 sea- weed lay on the beach; this was the 

 only spot on the coast where we saw shells. 



VOL. III. O 



