voyage we had fondly cherished; and it was equally obvious, that as our distance from any of the trading establishments would increase as we proceeded, the hazardous traverse across the barren grounds, which we should have to make, if compelled to abandon the canoes upon any part of the coast, would become greater.
“I this evening communicated to the officers my sentiments on these points, as well as respecting our return, and was happy to find that their opinions coincided with my own. We were all convinced of the necessity of putting a speedy termination to our advance, and I announced my determination of returning at the end of four days, unless we should previously meet the Esquimaux, and be enabled to make some arrangement for passing the winter with them. This communication was joyfully received by the men.
“Aug. 16th. – We rounded a cape, which now bears the name of my lamented friend Captain Flinders, and had the pleasure to find the coast trending N.N.E., with the sea in the offing unusually clear of islands; a circumstance which afforded matter of wonder to our Canadians, who had not previously had an uninterrupted view of the ocean. Our course was continued along the coast until eight p.m., when a change of wind, and a threatening thunder squall, induced us to encamp. The Canadians had now an opportunity of witnessing the effect of a storm upon the sea; and the sight increased their desire of quitting it. The following observations were obtained, – lat. 68° 18' 50" N.; long. 110° 5' 15" W., (but l09° 25' was used in the construction of the chart, as the chronometers were afterwards found to have altered their rates); variation 44° 15' 46" E.; and dip of the needle 89° 31' 12".
“Aug. 18th. – The stormy weather and sea continuing, there was no prospect of our being able to embark. Dr. Richardson, Mr. Back, and I, therefore, set out on foot to discover whether the land within a day’s march inclined more to the east. We went from ten to twelve miles along the coast, which continued flat, and kept the same direction as the encampment. The most distant land we saw had the same bearing, N.N.E., and appeared like two islands, which we estimated to be six or seven miles off: the shore on their inside seemingly trended more to the east, so that it is probable Point Turnagain, for so this spot was named, forms the pitch of a low flat cape.
“Though it will appear from the chart, that the position of Point Turnagain is only six degrees and a half to the east of the mouth of the Copper-mine River, we sailed, in tracing this deeply indented coast, 555 geographical miles, which is little less than the distance between that river and Repulse Day; supposing the latter to be in the longitude assigned to it by Middleton.
“When the many perplexing incidents which occurred during the survey of the coast are considered, in connection with the shortness of the period during which operations of the kind can be carried on, and the