376 



A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



encamp, having come twenty-four miles on a south-east three-quarter 

 south course. 



From the want of drift wood to make a fire we had fasted all 

 day, and were under the necessity, in the evening, of serving out 

 pemmican, which was done with much reluctance, especially as we 

 had some fresh deers' meat remaining. The inlet, when viewed from 

 a high hill adjoining to our encampment, exhibited so many arms, 

 that the course we ought to pursue was more uncertain than ever. 

 It was absolutely necessary, however, to see the end of it before we 

 could determine that it was not a strait. Starting at three A.M., 

 on the 4th, we paddled the whole day through channels, from two 

 to five or six miles wide, all tending to the southward. In the 

 course of the day's voyage we ascertained, that the land which we 

 had seen on our right hand since yesterday morning, consisted of 

 several large islands, which have been distinguished by the names of 

 Goulburn, Elliot, and Young ; but the land on our left preserved its 

 unbroken appearance, and when we encamped, we were still un- 

 certain whether it was the eastern side of a deep sound or merely 

 a large island. It differed remarkably from the main shore, being 

 very rugged, rocky, and sterile, whereas the outline of the main on 

 the opposite side was even, and its hills covered with a compara- 

 tively good sward of grass, and exhibited little naked rock. There 

 was no drift timber, but the shores near the encampment were 

 strewed with small pieces of willow, which indicated our vicinity to 

 the mouth of a river. This fuel enabled us to make a hearty 

 supper off a small deer killed this evening. 



The shallows we passed to-day were covered with shoals of capelin, 

 the angmaggceiik of the Esquimaux. It was known to Augustus, 

 who informed us that it frequents the coast of Hudson's Bay, and is 

 delicate eating. The course and distance made was, south by east 

 half east, thirty-three miles. 



