OF THE POLAR SEA. 



139 



River, and as far as Stony Island, where 

 we breakfasted. This island is merely a 

 rock of gneiss, that rises forty or fifty feet 

 above the lake, and is precipitous on the 

 north side. As the day was fine, and the 

 lake smooth, we ventured upon paddling 

 across to the Rein-Deer Islands, which 

 were distant about thirteen miles in a 

 northern direction, instead of pursuing the 

 usual track by keeping further along the 

 south shore which inclines to the eastward 

 from this point. These islands are nume- 

 rous, and consist of granite, rising from one 

 hundred to two hundred feet above the 

 water. They are for the most part naked ; 

 but towards the centres of the larger ones, 

 there is a little soil, and a few groves of 

 pines. At seven in the evening we landed 

 upon one of them and encamped. On the 

 following morning we ran before a strong 

 breeze and a heavy swell for some hours, 

 but at length were obliged to seek shelter 

 on a large island adjoining to Isle a la 

 Cache of Mackenzie, where the following 

 observations were obtained : latitude 61° 



