27th.--The coast trended in exactly the same direction as that we had
passed during the latter part of the preceding day's journey; the
walking was in general good, and our dogs were every day recovering
their strength. A single rock grouse (_tetrao rupestris_) was seen, but
so shy that we could not get a shot at it. Many traces of foxes, and the
recent foot-marks of a large white bear, were also seen. We kept a sharp
out-look for the latter, with the hopes of getting a few steaks out of
him, but he did not show himself. There was a high wall of broken ice
all along the shore here, which may be readily accounted for by the
direction of the coast, which, by contracting the bay, is exposed to the
pressure of the ice coming from the northward. Fortunate it was for us
that we had got some oil and seals' blubber, for there was not a bit of
anything in the shape of fuel to be seen along this barren shore. The
weather having become too warm, about 11 A.M., we stopped in latitude,
by observation, 68° 51' N., longitude by account 88° 6' W.
The morning of the 28th was particularly fine, with a temperature of 15°
below zero. For eight miles our course was the same as that of the day
before, but the land now turned gradually to the southward, and finally
to about a south-by-west direction. At noon the sun had become so warm,
that we were compelled to encamp for the day. At three miles from where
we had stopped, we passed a small bay, about 1½ mile wide, the only
indentation of the coast we had seen since leaving Pelly Bay. Our
latitude by meridian observation was 68° 32' 40" N., variation of the
compass 70° 55' W., and our longitude by account 88° 2' W.
29th.--We resumed our march at a little after 11 P.M. on the 28th. The
weather was calm, but cloudy, with the temperature -3°. The line of
coast now ran nearly south, and after a walk of five miles we came to a
narrow point, extending two miles to the eastward. We then crossed a bay
about 1½ mile wide, and arrived at another point of nearly the same
dimensions, both formed of mud and shingle. These I named respectively
after James and Robert Clouston, two intimate friends.
Four miles further brought us opposite to a small low island, half a
mile from the shore, and at a short distance beyond this we came to a
small bay upwards of a mile wide. A little before noon we stopped to
build our snow hut. The day was now warm, the thermometer having risen
as high as +55° in the sun, and +18° in the shade. One of our best dogs
got lamed by putting his foot into a crack in the ice. We saw the smoke
of open water at no great distance, and heard the ice making a loud
noise as it was driven along with the tide. There were numerous traces
of foxes, and the tracks of a band of deer, with a wolverine in pursuit,
were noticed. The latitude of our position was 68° 15' N., variation 75°
52' W., and longitude by account 88° 5' 36" W.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account