A specimen of trap rock was obtained from some rising grounds a mile
and a half distant from the north shore of Smith's Bay, near the head of
which we now for the first time observed a lake of a couple miles in
extent. When half a league from Cape Sibbald, we encamped under shelter
of some precipitous trap cliffs nearly a hundred feet high. Some more
cranes were seen, and numerous traces of deer and partridges. We here
procured some fuel, there being patches of ground bare of snow. Our
latitude by observation was 68° 19' 50" N. Variation of the compass 80°
55' W. Two of the men were affected with snow blindness--one of them
severely.
1st June.--It blew a gale of wind from S.E., with thick snow-drift at
8h. 30m. P.M. when we resumed our journey. At half-past 10 we crossed
the largest stream that we had yet met with on Melville Peninsula. It
was already partially open, owing to numerous springs, which had formed
many small mounds of ice from ten to twelve feet high. After taking a
copious draught from the limpid stream, we continued our journey across
Point Barnston and Cape Finlayson, until we arrived at Selkirk Bay,
when, the weather having become much worse, we stopped at 1h. 30m. A.M.
to build our snow hut at a place where there was such an abundant supply
of heather, that we had enough to cover our snow-bed with. Two deer were
seen, and Corrigal made an ineffectual attempt to get a shot at them. I
shot five ptarmigan, and four sandpipers were observed.
During the next night's journey the weather was very snowy, but the wind
being more moderate we got on faster. After coasting Selkirk Bay, we cut
across Cape Lady Simpson, and at half-past 6 A.M. on the 3rd of June, we
reached our encampment of the 19th ultimo in Erlandson Bay, where we
found our small "cache" of provisions quite safe. Five more partridges
were shot, and some deer seen. The snow being very soft, we remained
here all day, and at noon obtained the latitude 67° 59' N., and
variation 75° 9' W. The thermometer in the shade rose as high as +54°,
and our old snow-house tumbled down about our ears in the evening, just
as we were going to take our supper,--perhaps breakfast would be the
more appropriate term, as we had turned day into night.
We started at 8h. 30m. P.M., and notwithstanding the great power of the
sun, so much snow had fallen lately that it lay far deeper on the ground
than when we had previously passed this way. The walking also was so
much more fatiguing, that we were not able to reach our snow-house of
the 18th of May, and were in consequence under the necessity of building
new lodgings. The night was mild and nearly calm. Two phalaropes (_P.
fulicarius_) were seen, and a couple of ptarmigan shot. There was no
fuel to be found here, but having picked up a little as we came along,
we did not feel the want of it much.
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