Mr. Ross
described the country over which he passed as much intersected by
lakes, some of them not less than two or three miles in length,
and having in their neighbourhood abundance of grass, moss, and
other fine feeding for the deer. The report of Mr. Ross,
accompanied by an eye-sketch made upon the spot, left no doubt of
the existence of an outlet to the eastward, and enabled me to
decide without hesitation upon attempting the passage of the
narrows with the ships, leaving our subsequent route to be
determined on according to the report of Captain Lyon.
Piles of stones and the remains of Esquimaux habitations were
everywhere to be seen, and Mr. Ross met with their marks even on
the highest hills; but none appeared of recent date. The reindeer
were here very numerous. Mr. Ross saw above fifty of them in the
course of his walk, and several others were met with near the
tents. A large one was shot by one of the men, who struck the
animal; as he lay on the ground, a blow on the head with the butt
end of his piece, and, leaving him for dead, ran towards the tents
for a knife to bleed and skin him; when the deer very composedly
got on his legs, swam across a lake, and finally escaped. A small
fawn was the only one killed.
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