OF THE POLAR SEA. 217 



fire we had fasted all day, and were under 

 the necessity, in the evening, of serving out 

 pemmican, which was done with much re- 

 luctance, especially as we had some fresh 

 deers' meat remaining. The inlet, when 

 viewed from a high hill adjoining to our 

 encampment, exhibited so many arms, that 

 the course we ought to pursue was more 

 uncertain than ever. It was absolutely ne- 

 cessary, however, to see the end of it before 

 we could determine that it was not a strait. 

 Starting at three A.M., on the 4th, we 

 paddled the whole day through channels, 

 from two to five or six miles wide, all tend- 

 ing to the southward. In the course of the 

 day's voyage we ascertained that the land 

 which we had seen on our right since yes- 

 terday morning, consisted of several large 

 islands which have been distinguished by 

 the names of Goulburn, Elliott, and Young ; 

 but the land on our left preserved its un- 

 broken appearance, and when we encamped, 

 we were still uncertain whether it was the 

 eastern side of a deep sound or merely a 

 large island. It differed remarkably from 



