40 



"Journal of a Voyage through the 



My new conductor being very much discouraged and 

 quite tired of his situation, used his influence to prevent 

 oar proceeding. He had never been, he said, at the 

 Benahulla Toe, or White Man's Lake ; and that when he 

 went to the Esquimaux Lake, which is at no great dis- 

 tance, he passed over land from the place where we found 

 him, and to that part where the Esquimaux pass the sum- 

 mer. In short, my hunters also became so disheartened 

 from these accounts, and other circumstances, that I was 

 confident they would have left me, if it had been in their 

 power. I, however, satisfied them, in some degree, by 

 the assurance, that I would proceed onwards but seven 

 days more, and if I did not then get to the sea, I would 

 return. Indeed, the low state of our provisions, without 

 any other considerations, formed a very sufficient security 

 for the maintenance of my engagement. Our last course 

 was thirty-two miles, with a stronger current than could 

 be expected in such a low country. 



We now proceed North-North-West four miles, North- 

 West three miles, North-East two miles, North- West by 

 West three miles, and North-East two miles. At half 

 past eight in the evening we landed and pitched our tents, 

 near to where there had been three encampments of the 

 Esquimaux, since the breaking up of the ice. The na- 

 tives, who followed us yesterday, left us at our station 

 this morning. In the course of the day we saw large 

 flocks of wild fowl. 



Saturday 11. I sat up all night to observe the sun. At 

 half past twelve I called up one of the men to view a spec- 

 tacle which he had never before seen ; when, on seeing 

 the sun so high, he thought it was a signal to embark, and 

 began to call the rest of his companions, who would scarce- 

 ly be persuaded by me, that the sun had not descended 

 nearer to the horizon, and that it was now but a short time 

 past midnight. 



W e reposed, however, till three quarters after three, 

 when we entered the canoe, and steered about. North- 

 West, the river taking a very serpentine course. About 

 seven we saw a ridge of high land : at twelve we landed 

 at a spot where we observed that some of the natives had 

 lately been. I counted thirty places where there had been 

 fires ; and some of the men who went further, saw as many 

 more. They must have been here for a considerable time, 

 thpugh it does not appear that they had erected any huts. 



