NORTH-WEST CONTINENT OF AMERICA.

io that the fwell in fome meafure drove them on fhore, though their
canoes were nearly filled with water; and had they been laden, we
fhould have feen them no more. As I did not propofe to fatisfy my
curiofity at the rifk of fimilar dangers, we continued our courfe along
the iflands, which fcreened us from the wind. I was now determined
to take a more particular examination of the iflands, in the hope of
meeting with parties of the natives, from whom I might be able to obtain
fome interefting intelligence, though our conduétor difcouraged my
expettations by reprefenting them as very fhy and inacceflible people.
At the fame time he informed me that we fhould probably find fome of
them, if we navigated the channel which he had originally recommended

us to enter.

At eight we encamped on the Eaftern end of the ifland, which I had
named the Whale Ifland. It is about feven leagues in length, Eaft
and Weft by compafs; but not more than half a mile in breadth.
We faw feveral red foxes, one of which was killed. There were alfo
five or fix very old huts on the point where we had taken our flation.
The nets were now fet, and one of them in five fathom water, the cur-
rent fetting North-Eaft by compafs. This morning I ordered a poft to
be ere€ted clofe to our tents, on which I engraved the latitude of the
glace, my. own name, the number of perfons which I had with me, and

the time we remained there.

Being awakened by fome cafual circumftance, at four this morning,

I was furprifed on perceiving that the water had flowed under our baggage.
As the wind had not changed, and did not blow with greater violence than
K when

Wednef. 15.