took an ©bfervation which gave 69, 1. North latitude. From the point
that has been juft mentioned, we continued the fame, courfe. for the
Wefternmoft point of an high iftand, and theWefternmoft land in fight,
at the diftance of fifteen mites.
The lake was quite open to us to the Weft ward, and out o f the channel
Of the river there was not more than four feet water, and in fome places
the depth did not exceed one foot. From the fhallownefs of the
water it was impofiible to coaft to the WeftwardL At five o*dock
we arrived at the iftand, and during the laft fifteen miles, five feet was
the deepeft water. The lakenovrappeared to be covered wiikicej for
about two leagues diftance, and no land ahead, fo that we were prevented
from ^proceeding in this direöion by the ice, and the flmfteswnefe ©f the
water along the fhore.
We landed at the boundary of our voyage in this dhefiaon, and as
foon as the tents were pitched I ordered the nets, to be fefc, when I prOe
ceeded; with the EngHfh chief to the higbeft part j of the ifland,from
which we difeovered the folid ice, extending from the .SputhrWeft by
com pais to «the Eaftward. As far as the eye could reach to the South-
Weftward, we. could dimly perceive a chain o f mountains, ftretehrng
further to the North than the edge of the ice, at the diftance ©f upwards
of twenty leagues. To the Eaftward we few many iflands, and in our
progoefe we met with a.confiderable number of white, partridges; now
become brown. There were alfo flocks of very beautiful plovers,
and I found the neft o f one of them with, four eggs. White owls,
hkewife, were among the inhabitants ©f the place: but the dead, as
well
well as th r iv in g , demanded our attention, for we came to the grave o f
ibne of the natives; by Which lay a' bow, a paddle;^ and a fpear. The
Indians informed me that they .landed on a fmall ifland, about four
Jeagues from hence, where‘they haditee'a the tracks of two men, that were
quite frelh; they had alfo foui^d' a fecret ftpre o f train oil, and feveral
bones of white bears were. Scattered about the place where it was hid.
The wind was now fo high that it was impra£ficable for us to vifit the
nets. •
My people could not, at tRis, time, refrain from .expreflions o f real
coocerp, that they were obliged to return without reaching the fea:
indeed the hope of attaining this obje& encouraged them to Bear, with-
out repining, the hardlhips of our unremitting voyage. For fome time
paft’ their fpirits were animated by the expe&ation that another day
•Wpnld bring them to the Mer £<meji: and even in pur prefent fituation
they declared their readinefs to follow me wherever I fliould be pleafed
to lead them. We few feveral large white gulls, and other birds, whofe
back, and upper feathers of the wing, are brown; and whofe belly, and
under feathers ©f the wing are white.
CHAP.