OF THE POLAR SEA. 



219 



53' W. I have named this stream Back, as 

 a mark of my friendship for my associate.* 

 We were somewhat consoled for the loss of 

 time in exploring this inlet, by the success 

 of Junius in killing a musk-ox, the first we 

 had seen on the coast; and afterwards by 

 the acquisition of the flesh of a bear, that 

 was shot as we were returning up the 

 eastern side in the evening. The latter 

 proved to be a female, in very excellent 

 condition ; and our Canadian voyagers, 

 whose appetite for fat meat is insatiable, 

 were delighted. 



We encamped on the shores of a sandy 

 bay, and set the nets ; and rinding a quantity 

 of dried willows on the beach, we were 

 enabled to cook the bear's flesh, which was 

 superior to any meat we tasted on the coast. 

 The water fell two feet at this place during 

 the night. Our nets produced a great variety 

 of fish, namely, a salmon-trout, some round 



* From subsequent conversation with the Copper 

 Indians, we were inclined to suppose this may be the 

 Thlueetessy, described by Black-meat, mentioned in 

 a former part of the narrative. 



