322 
VOYAGE TO THE 
CHAP, left unexplored is thus reduced to 146 miles, and there is much reason 
to believe, from the state of the sea about Point Earrow and along that 
fsifi coast which was explored by Captain Franklin, that the 
navigation of the remaining portion of unknown coast in boats is by no 
means a hopeless project. 
Having now the assistance of the barge, I embarked in her to 
examine narrowly the shores of Kotzebue Sound. Proceeding to survey 
the head of Escholtz Bay, shallow water obliged the boat to anchor off 
Elephant Point, where I left Mr. Collie with a party to examine again 
the cliffs in which the fossils and ice formation had been seen by Kot- 
zebue, and proceeded to the head of the bay in a small boat. We 
landed upon a flat muddy beach, and were obliged to wade a quarter of 
a mile before we could reach a cliff for the purpose of having a view of 
the surrounding country. Having gained its summit we were gratified 
by the discovery of a large river coming fro. i the southward, and passing 
between our station and a range of hills. At a few miles distance the 
river passed between rocky cliffs, whence the land on either side became 
hilly, and interrupted our further view of its course. The width of the 
river was about a mile and a half ; but this space was broken into nar- 
row and intricate channels by banks — some dry, and others partly so. 
The stream passed rapidly between them, and at an earlier period of 
the season a considerable body of water must be poured into the 
sound ; though, from the comparative width of the channels, the cur- 
rent in the latter is not much felt. 
The shore around us was flat, broken bv several lakes, in which 
there were a great many wildfowl. The cliff we had ascended was com- 
posed of a bluish mud and clay, and was full of deep chasms lying in 
a direction parallel with the front of the cliff. In appearance the 
cliff was similar to that at Elephant Point, which was said to contain 
fossils; but there were none seen in this one, though the earth, in 
parts, had a disagreeable smell, similar to that which was supposed to 
proceed from the decayed animal substances in the c liff near Elephant 
Point. 
Keturning from this river, we were joined by three caiacs from 
some tents near us, and four from the river, who were very trouble- 
