to the north of Churchill River.  I allude more particularly to the Capelin or Salmo arcticus which we found in large shoals in Bathurst’s Inlet and which not only abounds, as Augustus told us, in the bays in his country, but swarms in the Greenland firths.* The portion of the sea over which we passed is navigable for vessels of any size; the ice we met, particularly after quitting Detention Harbour, would not have arrested a strong boat.  The chain of islands affords shelter from all heavy seas and there are good harbours at convenient distances.  I entertain indeed sanguine hopes that the skill and exertions of my friend Captain Parry will soon render this question no longer problematical.  His task is doubtless an arduous one and if ultimately successful may occupy two and perhaps three seasons but, confiding as I do from personal knowledge in his perseverance and talent for surmounting difficulties, the strength of his ships, and the abundance of provisions with which they are stored, I have very little apprehension of his safety.  As I understand his object was to keep the coast of America close on board he will find in the spring of the year, before the breaking up of the ice can permit him to pursue his voyage, herds of deer flocking in abundance to all parts of the coast, which may be procured without difficulty, and even later in the season additions to his stock of provision may be obtained on many parts of the coast, should circumstances give him leisure to send out hunting parties.  With the trawl or seine nets also he may almost everywhere get abundance of fish even without retarding his progress.  Under these circumstances I do not conceive that he runs any hazard of wanting provisions should his voyage be prolonged even beyond the latest period of time which is calculated upon.  Drift timber may be gathered at many places in considerable quantities and there is a fair prospect of his opening a communication with the Esquimaux who come down to the coast to kill seals in the spring previous to the ice breaking up, and from whom, if he succeeds in conciliating their goodwill, he may obtain provision and much useful assistance.

(Footnote.  Arctic Zoology volume 2 page 394.)

If he makes for Copper-Mine River, as he probably will do, he will not find it in the longitude as laid down on the charts, but he will probably find what would be more interesting to him, a post which we erected on the 26th August at the mouth of Hood’s River which is nearly, as will appear hereafter, in that longitude, with a flag upon it and a letter at the foot of it, which may convey to him some useful information.  It is possible however that he may keep outside of the range of islands which skirt this part of the coast.

CHAPTER 12.

JOURNEY ACROSS THE BARREN GROUNDS.  DIFFICULTY AND DELAY IN CROSSING COPPER-MINE RIVER.  MELANCHOLY AND FATAL RESULTS THEREOF.  EXTREME MISERY OF THE WHOLE PARTY.  MURDER OF MR. HOOD.  DEATH OF SEVERAL OF THE CANADIANS.  DESOLATE STATE OF FORT ENTERPRISE.  DISTRESS SUFFERED AT THAT PLACE.  DR. RICHARDSON’S NARRATIVE.  MR. BACK’S NARRATIVE.  CONCLUSION.