little exaggeration. The consideration that the most painful, and
certainly the most hazardous part of the journey was yet to come,
did not depress their spirits at all. It is due to their character to
mention that they displayed much courage in encountering the
dangers of the sea, magnified to them by their novelty.
The shores between Cape Barrow and Cape Flinders, including
the extensive branches of Arctic and Melville Sounds, and Bathurst’s
Inlet, may be comprehended in one great gulf, which I have distinguished
by the appellation of George IV.’s Coronation Gulf, in
honour of His Most Gracious Majesty, the latter name being added
to mark the time of its discovery. The Archipelago of islands
which fringe the coast from Copper-Mine Biver to Point Turnagain,
I have named in honour of His Royal Highnes the Duke of York.
It may be deserving of notice that the extremes in temperature
of the sea water during our voyage were 63° and 35° but its general
temperature was between 43° and 48°. Throughout our return from
Point Turnagain we observed that the sea had risen several feet
above marks left at our former encampments. This may, perhaps,
be attributed to the north-west gales.
August 26.s&Previous to our departure this morning an assortment
of iron materials, beads, looking-glasses, and other articles were
put up in a conspicuous situation for the Esquimaux, and the
English Union was planted on the loftiest sand-hill, where it might
be seen by any ships passing in the ofiing. Here also, was
deposited in a tin box, a letter containing an outline of our proceedings,
the latitude and longitude of the principal places, and the
course we intended to pursue towards Slave Lake.
Embarking at eight A.M. we proceeded up the river which is
full of sandy shoals, but sufficiently deep for canoes in the channels.
It is from one hundred to two hundred yards wide, and is bounded
by high and steep banks of clay. We encamped at a cascade of
eighteen or twenty feet high, which is produced by a ridge of rock