landing, found ourselves at the bottom of Shoal-water Bay, the western point of Tent Island bearing N. 16° E. (true), distant about six miles. This then was that western channel which the Esquimaux messengers exhorted Sir John Franklin to ascend in August 1826, to escape the pursuit of the Mountain Indians. It is certainly preferable to the one he followed, as we nowhere found less than five feet water; and, steering straight out through the bay, there was a depth of fully three feet. Upon the point stood several old winter habitations of the Esquimaux; and, directing our glasses to Tent Island, we descried their summer camp. We halted for an hour, during which the variation 49° 22′ E. was obtained, the thermometer indicating 78°; and then stood out to sea.
