202 SECOND JOURNEY TO THE 



ble. On a subsequent trial of this coal at 

 our winter-quarters, we found that it emit- 

 ted little heat, and was unfit for the black- 

 smith's use. The banks likewise contain 

 layers of a kind of unctuous mud, similar, 

 perhaps, to that found on the borders of 

 the Orinoco, which the Indians, in this 

 neighbourhood, use occasionally as food 

 during seasons of famine, and even, at 

 other times, chew as an amusement. It 

 has a milky taste, and the flavour is not 

 disagreeable. We used it for whitening 

 the walls of our dwellings ; for which pur- 

 pose it is well adapted." 



The Mackenzie falls into the sea in 

 numerous large branches, intersecting an 

 extensive delta of alluvial soil. Captain 

 Franklin was satisfied, on reaching the 

 Whale Island of Mackenzie, the extreme of 

 that enterprizing traveller's progress, that 

 he too had reached the sea, but, on tasting 

 the water, found it to be perfectly fresh ; 

 which circumstance may have influenced 

 Mackenzie in not making any mention of 

 what might have raised a doubt whether he 



