42 , journal of a Voyage through the 



ered with branches and dry grass ; over which is laid a 

 foot deep of earth. On each side of these houses are a few 

 square holes in the ground of about two feet in depth, 

 which are covered with split wood and earth, except in 

 the middle. These appeared to be contrived for the pre- 

 servation of the winter stock of provisions. In and about 

 the houses we found sledge runners and bones, pieces of 

 whalebone, and poplar bark cut in circles, which are used 

 as corks to buoy the nets, and are fixed to them by pieces 

 of whalebone. Before each hut a great number of stumps 

 Qf trees were fixed in the ground, upon which it appeared 

 t^hat they hung their fish to dry. 



We now continued our voyage, and encamped at eight 

 o'clock. I calculated our course at about North-West, 

 and, allowing for the windings, that we had made fifty- 

 four miles. We expected, throughout the day, to meet 

 with some of the natives. On several of the islands we 

 perceived the print of their feet in the sand, as if they had 

 been there but a few days before, to procure wild fowl. 

 There were frequent showers of rain in the afternoon, and 

 the weather was raw and disagreeable. We saw a black 

 fox ; but trees were now become very rare objects, except 

 a few dwarf willows, of not more than three feet in height. 



The discontents of our hunters were now renewed by 

 the accounts which our guide had been giving of that part 

 of our voyage that was approaching. According to his in- 

 formation, we were to see a larger lake on the morrow. 

 Neither he nor his relations, he said, knew any thing about 

 it, except that part which is opposite to, and not far from, 

 their country. The Esquimaux alone, he added, inhabits 

 its shores, and kill a large fish that is found in it, which is 

 a principal part of their food ; this, we presumed, must 

 be the whale. He also mentioned white bears and another 

 large animal which was seen in those parts, but our hunters 

 could not understand the description which he gave of it. 

 He also represented their canoes as being of a large con- 

 struction, which would commodiously contain four or five 

 families. However, to reconcile the English Chief to the 

 necessary continuance in my service, I presented him with ; 

 one of my capots or travelling coats ; at the same time, to 

 satisfy the guide, and keep him, if possible, in good hu- 

 mour, I gave him a skin of the moose deer, which, in his 

 opinion, was a valuable present. 



