the navigation of the Arctic Ocean; with a voyage before him of not less than 1200 geographical miles, Fort Churchill, on the western shore of Hudson’s Bay, being the nearest spot at which he could hope to meet with a civilized human being. He had, it is true, some faint hope of meeting with Esquimaux along the coast, with whom he might, if necessary, pass the winter; but not one was to be seen, though the vestiges of their habitations were occasionally visible. The following will suffice to shew the desperate nature of this undertaking:
“July 26. – We had constant rain with thunder during the night. The nets furnished only three salmon-trout. Embarking at six a.m., we paddled against a cold breeze, until the spreading of a thick fog caused us to land. At noon, the wind coming from a favorable quarter tempted us to proceed, although the fog was unabated. We kept as close as we could to the main shore, but having to cross some bays, it became a matter of doubt whether we had not left the main, and were running along an island. Just as we were endeavouring to double a bold cape, the fog partially cleared away, and allowed us an imperfect view of a chain of islands on the outside, and of much heavy ice which was pressing down upon us. The shore near us was so steep and rugged, that no landing of the cargoes could be effected, and we were preserved only by some men jumping on the rocks, and thrusting the ice off with poles. There was no alternative but to continue along this dreary shore, seeking a channel between the different masses of ice which had accumulated at the various points. In this operation both the canoes were in imminent danger of being crushed by the ice, which was now tossed about by the waves that the gale had excited. We effected a passage, however, and keeping close to the shore, landed at the entrance of Detention Harbour, at nine p.m., having come 28 miles. I have named this cape after Mr. Barrow, of the Admiralty.
“We had much wind and rain during the night; and by the morning of the 26th a great deal of ice had drifted into the inlet. We embarked at four, and attempted to force a passage, when the first canoe got enclosed, and remained for some time in a very perilous situation, the pieces of ice, crowded together by the action of the current and wind, pressing strongly against its feeble sides. On the morning of the 27th, the ice remaining stationary at the entrance, we went to the bottom of the harbour, and carried the canoes and cargoes about a mile and a half across the point of land that forms the ea^t side of it; but the ice was not more favorable there for our advancement than at the place we had left. On the morning of the 27th, the ice appearing less compact, we embarked to change our our situation, having consumed all the fuel within our reach. The wind came off the land just as the canoes had started, and we determined on attempting to force a passage along the shore; in which we fortunately
