234 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



shores we were now coasting ; besides it 

 was to be apprehended they would soon 

 migrate to the south. It was evident that 

 the time spent in exploring the Arctic and 

 Melville Sounds, and Bathurst's Inlet, had 

 precluded the hope of reaching Repulse 

 Bay, which at the outset of the voyage we 

 had fondly cherished ; and it was equally 

 obvious that as our distance from any of 

 the trading establishments would increase 

 as we proceeded, the hazardous traverse 

 across the barren grounds, which we should 

 have to make, if compelled to abandon the 

 canoes upon any part of the coast, would 

 become greater. 



I this evening communicated to the of- 

 ficers my sentiments on these points, as 

 well as respecting our return, and was happy 

 to find that their opinions coincided with 

 my own. We were all convinced of the 

 necessity of putting a speedy termination to 

 our advance, as our hope of meeting the 

 Esquimaux and procuring provision from 

 them, could now scarcely be retained ; but 

 yet we were desirous of proceeding, until 



