OF THE POLAR SEA. 235 



the land should be seen trending again to 

 the eastward ; that we might be satisfied of 

 its separation from what we had conceived, 

 in passing from Cape Barrow to Bathurst's 

 Inlet, to be a great chain of islands. As it 

 was needful, however, at all events, to set a 

 limit to our voyage, I announced my deter- 

 mination of returning after four days' ex- 

 amination, unless, indeed, we should previ- 

 ously meet the Esquimaux, and be enabled 

 to make some arrangement for passing the 

 winter with them. This communication 

 was joyfully received by the men, and we 

 hoped that the industry of our hunters be- 

 ing once more excited, we should be able to 

 add to our stock of provision. 



It may here be remarked that we ob- 

 served the first regular return of the tides 

 in Warrender's and Parry's Bays ; but their 

 set could not be ascertained. The rise of 

 water did not amount to more than two feet. 

 Course to-day south one quarter east — nine 

 miles and a quarter. 



August 16. — Some rain fell in the night, 

 but the morning was unusually fine. We 



