The wind continued in the same direction until we had rounded Point Wollaston and then changed to a quarter which enabled us to steer for Hood’s River, which we ascended as high as the first rapid and encamped.  Here terminated our voyage on the Arctic Sea during which we had gone over six hundred and fifty geographical miles.  Our Canadian voyagers could not restrain their joy at having turned their backs on the sea, and passed the evening in talking over their past adventures with much humour and no little exaggeration.  The consideration that the most painful, and certainly the most hazardous, part of the journey was yet to come did not depress their spirits at all.  It is due to their character to mention that they displayed much courage in encountering the dangers of the sea, magnified to them by their novelty.

The shores between Cape Barrow and Cape Flinders, including the extensive branches of Arctic and Melville Sounds and Bathurst’s Inlet, may be comprehended in one great gulf which I have distinguished by the appellation of George IV’s Coronation Gulf in honour of His Most Gracious Majesty, the latter name being added to mark the time of its discovery.  The archipelago of islands which fringe the coast from Copper-Mine River to Point Turnagain I have named in honour of His Royal Highness the Duke of York.

It may be deserving of notice that the extremes in temperature of the seawater during our voyage were 53 and 35 degrees, but its general temperature was between 43 and 48 degrees.  Throughout our return from Point Turnagain we observed that the sea had risen several feet above marks left at our former encampments.  This may perhaps be attributed to the north-west gales.

August 26.

Previous to our departure this morning an assortment of iron materials, beads, looking-glasses, and other articles were put up in a conspicuous situation for the Esquimaux and the English Union was planted on the loftiest sandhill where it might be seen by any ships passing in the offing.  Here also was deposited in a tin box a letter containing an outline of our proceedings, the latitude and longitude of the principal places, and the course we intended to pursue towards Slave Lake.

Embarking at eight A.M. we proceeded up the river which is full of sandy shoals but sufficiently deep for canoes in the channels.  It is from one hundred to two hundred yards wide and is bounded by high and steep banks of clay.  We encamped at a cascade of eighteen or twenty feet high which is produced by a ridge of rock crossing the river and the nets were set.  A mile below this cascade Hood’s River is joined by a stream half its own size which I have called James’ Branch.  Bear and deer tracks had been numerous on the banks of the river when we were here before but not a single recent one was to be seen at this time.  Credit however killed a small deer at some distance inland which, with the addition of berries, furnished a delightful repast this evening.  The weather was remarkably fine and the temperature so mild that the mosquitoes again made their appearance, but not in any great numbers.  Our distance made today was not more than six miles.