At noon the latitude, 63° 56' 13" N., was observed, and shortly
afterwards two Esquimaux were seen coming off in their kayaks, paddling
at a great rate; but the breeze had now freshened, and it would have
given them hard work to overtake us had we not shortened sail, and
afterwards landed on an island, where we waited for them. Three more
joined us there. They were very dirty, and far inferior in every respect
to our friends of Repulse Bay. One of them was about five feet eight
inches high, had a formidable beard and moustache, and was better
looking than the others. After making them some presents we shoved off,
and stood across the bay to the westward of Cape Fullerton. This bay is
much deeper than it is laid down in the chart, and is crowded with
islands.
It was near high water when we reached the main shore, and as we could
make no progress against wind and tide, we put into a safe harbour.
Nothing was to be seen for a mile or two inland but rocks, clothed in
some spots with moss or grass. Deer were observed, and a young one shot
by Nibitabo.
About an hour after our landing the wind shifted to W.N.W., and, as I
was afraid of getting aground in our present berth, the boats were moved
to a more open situation from which they could start at any time of
tide.
The Esquimaux could tell us nothing about Churchill, none of them having
visited that place either this or the previous summer. Thermometer at 9
P.M. +53.
17th.--We were under weigh at 2 A.M., but the wind was both light and
close, so that our progress was slow. Before the tide changed it came
more from the southward; we were therefore obliged to anchor as soon as
it began to ebb. The latitude of our harbour was 63° 47' 33" N. Var. 31°
8' W. The rocks, like those where we landed last night, were grey
granite and gneiss. Thermometer at noon +60°. A large black whale was
seen this morning.
At half-past 1 P.M. the tide began to flow, and at two we were under
sail, the wind having gone round to the northward, so as to permit us to
lie our course along shore. A succession of reefs lines the coast, which
is itself very irregular in its outline, being indented with numberless
inlets, some of them running many miles inland.
The tide began to ebb at 8 P.M., and as the wind had fallen and headed
us, we ran in shore and cast anchor under the shelter of some rocks. It
was just getting dark when a fresh breeze of fair wind sprung up. This
was annoying enough. At 10 o'clock nine Esquimaux visited us, but staid
only a short time, as we were to stop near their tents in the morning.
Two of them said they would sleep on the rocks near us, with the
intention of pointing out the deepest channel when we should resume our
voyage.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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