*793- the weft point of the arm that we had quitted, that which we were now
i 1 - ■ purfuing extended N. 20 w., neatly ftraight, about ten miles ; where, as
iifual, it was terminated by low fwampy ground ; and in latitude 55° 32',
longitude 230° 16'. Our expectations of difcovering the extenfive inland
navigation, diftinguilhed by the name of Ewen-Nafs, were here a little
difappointed; ftill however we entertained hopes of fucceeding, by the
appearance of the low land oh the weftern {hore; and we returned in the
afternoon to profecute its examination. It was found to be a coin pact
fhore, much indented with fmall bays and coves, and abounding in fome
places with funken rocks. In the fouth-wefternmoft of thefe coves,
which is the deepeft, we halted-for the night; and although a fituation
for our tents was fixed upon amongft the pine-trees, at leaft twenty feet
above the furface o f the water at our landing, and, as-we thought, fuf-
Friday 26. ficiently without the reach of the tide, yet, about two in the morning,
it flowed into the tents, and we were obliged to retire to our boats. At
day-light we purfued the weftern Chore o f the inlet, towards the Slips,
where we arrived about noon.
I now entertained no doubt of-this being the continental Chore; and it
was equally evident to me, that it extended itfelf far up that branch which
we had palled in the afternoon o f the 22d, leading to the n.n.w . Having
therefore determined to profecute my refearches in that quarter, our flock
of provifions was recruited; and, after dining on board, we recommenced
our examination along the weftern fhore of the inlet, and refted for
the night in a fmall cove, about twelve miles to the font hward of the
Chips. The afternoon and night were very rainy and unpleafunt, but
Saturday 27. early the next morning we fat out, with fair weather, and having a
rapid tide in our favor, foon reached the eaft point of entrance into
the n. n.w . branch;. which, after Mr. Ramfden, the optician, I called
P o in t R au sd en , lying in latitude 54® longitude 236° 2-§-'. Off
this point are fome dangerous rocks, that are vifible only at low tide;
from hence we direfted our cóurfe N .w ., three miles to a low point on the
larboard fhore, where we found this arm to communicate with another,
leading in a s.w. and n.n.e . direction, and'being in general about half
a league in width. After breakfaft, we purfued the latter direftion, and
2 fleered
Oo
fleered for the eaftern or continental fhore. This extends firft from point
Ramfden n. 21 w . fix miles, and takes a n.n.e. courfe.
As we advanced, we were joined by a party o f fifteen natives in two
canoes. A finoke had before been obferved amongft the trees on the
eaftern fhore, but we then faw no appearance of any habitations. Thefe
people approached us without much hefitation, and in their countenances
was expreffed a degree of favage ferocity infinitely furpaffing
any thing o f the fort I had before obferved in the various tribes that
had fallen under my notice. Many of thofe we had before feen had
their faces painted in various modes; but thefe had contrived fo to dif-
pofe o f the red, white, and black, as to render the natural uglinefs o f
their countenances more horribly hideous. This frightful appearance
did not feem to be a new fafhion among them, but to have been long
adopted by their naturally ferocious difpofitions, and was correfpondent to
the ftern and favage deportment they took fo much pains to exhibit. I
offered them fuch prefents as we had been accuftomed to make on fimi-
lar occafions, but they were rejected by fome with difdain, whilft the
few who deigned to accept anything, received our gifts with, a ftern and
cool indifference, Amongft the party was a woman who was additionally
disfigured by one o f thofe extraordinary lip ornaments; this did
not a little augment her froward, fhrewifh afpefl. I offered her a looking
glafs, with fome trinkets, but, at the inftance of the moll favage
fellow of the party, Ihe contemptuoufly rejected them. This Indian then
arranged his fpears, about fix or eight in number, and placed them
with their points juft over the bow o f the canoe, near where he fat;
he alfo laid near him his bow with feme arrows; then put on his war
garment, and drew his dagger. Some in the other canoe made fimilar
preparations, either to menace, an attack, or, what feemed to us more
likely, to convince us they were upon their guard againft any violence
we might be inclined to offer them.
A t this time we were confiderably a-head o f the other boat; and as it
was neceffary that we lhould fhortly land on the point from whence the
continent takes its n, n..e. direction, for the purpofe of taking angles, we
waited for the launch to come u p ; and during this interval, we ufed
V.OL. II. X X our