great magnitude at this state of the tide.  Near the north-shore the water was, indeed, whirled round in the manner of a boiling cauldron of ten or twelve feet diameter, with considerable noise and much foam; but we passed without the smallest inconvenience, within thirty or forty feet of the outer circle.  Our skin-boat, however, which we had in tow, with a man in it, was seized by the vortex, and received a rapid twist; but as the towing-rope did not break, she was immediately rescued from danger by the swiftness of our course, and the affair afforded us more diversion than anxiety.  The motion of the water in these eddies is so great, that they never freeze in the severest winter.  The ice being drawn towards them with great force, the largest shoals are carried under water, and thrown up again, broken into numerous fragments.  The Ikkerasak is at that season utterly impassable for boats.  The Killinek people inhabit an island to the right, after leaving the strait.

When we quitted the Ikkerasak, and entered the ocean on the western side of Cape Chudleigh, it seemed as if we were transported to a new world.  Hitherto the coast to our left had always taken a northerly direction.  It now turned to the S.S.W. and is low, with gently sloping hills, the sea being full of small islands, abounding in sea-fowl.

To the N. and N.W. we saw the open sea in Hudson’s Straits, which, compared to the turbulent Atlantic, seemed calm and peaceful.  We sailed briskly amidst the islands, and overtook the inhabitants of Saeglek, whom we had seen at Kakkeviak, where they had got the start of us.  The wind being favourable, we did not hail them, but kept on our course.  We now saw with pleasure the Ungava country to the South before us, but had first to pass the low point of Uivarsuk, the bay of Arvavik, in which the people from Saeglek had their summer stations, and the mountain Omanek, of moderate height, and surrounded by many small islets, called by the Esquimaux Erngavinget, (bowels).  We now discovered three skin-boats full of people standing towards us from the shore.  They were inhabitants of Ungava, and welcomed our approach with loud shouts of joy and firing their pieces, which was answered by our party.  They followed us to Omanek, a round island rising like a loaf among the rest, where they pitched their tents on shore.

Some of them had formerly dwelt in different places north of Okkak, and were known to the Missionaries in former times, the rest were perfect strangers.  They declared their intention of coming over to the North of Okkak, to remain some time in that country, for the sake of trade.  It has been mentioned, that some of the Ungava people have come to Okkak, and carry on a trade between their countrymen and that place.  They are a kind of middle men, bring fox and bear-skins, and exchange them for European goods.  These they carry back, and sell at a very advanced price in the Ungava country.  They spend two years on such a trading voyage.