366 



A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



fortunately killed. Kesuming our voyage we were much impeded by 

 the ice, and, at length, being unable to force a passage through a 

 close stream that had collected round a cape, we put ashore at four 

 A.M. On the 24th, several stone fox-traps and other traces of the 

 Esquimaux were seen near to the encampment. The horizontal 

 refraction varied so much this morning, that the upper limb of the 

 sun twice appeared at the horizon before it finally rose. 



For the last two days the water rose and fell about nine inches. 

 The tides, however, seemed to be very irregular, and we could not 

 determine the direction of the ebb or flood. A current setting to 

 the eastward was running about two miles an hour during our stay. 

 The ice having removed a short distance from the shore, by eleven 

 A.M. we embarked, and with some difficulty effected a passage; then 

 making a traverse across Gray's Bay*, we paddled up under the 

 eastern shore against a strong wind. The interpreters landed here, 

 and went in pursuit of a deer, but had no success. This part of the 

 coast is indented by deep bays, which are separated by peninsulas 

 formed like wedges, sloping many miles into the sea, and joined by 

 low land to the main: so that often mistaking them for islands, we 

 were led by a circuitous route round the bays. Cliffs were numerous 

 on the islands, which were all of the trap formation. 



At seven, a thunder-storm coming on, we encamped at the mouth 

 of a river about eighty yards wide and set four nets. This stream, 

 which has received the name of Wentzel, after our late companion, 

 discharges a considerable body of water. Its banks are sandy and 

 clothed with herbage. The Esquimaux had recently piled up some 

 drift timber here. A few ducks, ravens, and snow birds, were seen 

 to-day. The distance we made was thirty-one miles. 



July 25. — We had constant rain with thunder during the night. 

 The nets furnished only three salmon-trout. We attributed the 



* Named after Mr. Gray, principal of the Belfast Academy. An island which lies across 

 the mouth of this bay bears the name of our English sailor Hepburn. 



