Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall sp4.djvu/375

 . These strangers were soon found to be Esquimaux, roaming along the shore in search of food, their great dependence for sustenance being upon the produce of the sea. As they never had seen Europeans before, their manners and customs were, of course, quite original, and they afforded our voyagers much amusement, in various ways, during the remainder of the winter. The first discovery made in the summer of 1822, is thus described by Captain Parry:

“On the 12th July, observing an opening in the land, like a river, I left the Fury in a boat to examine the soundings of the coast. On approaching the opening, we found so strong a current setting out of it, as to induce me to taste the water, which proved to be scarcely brackish; and a little closer in, perfectly fresh, though the depth was from 14 to 16 fathoms. As this stream was a sufficient security against any ice coming in, I determined to anchor the ships somewhere in its neighbourhood, and to examine the supposed river in the boats.

“On the 13th, accompanied by several of the officers, as well as by Captain Lyon, I again left the Fury, at 8-30 Immediately on opening the inlet we encountered a rapid current setting outwards, and after rowing a mile and a half to the N.W.b.W., the breadth of the stream varying from one-third of a mile to 400 or 500 yards, came to some shoal water extending quite across. Landing on the south shore, and hauling the boats up above high-water mark, we rambled up the bank of the stream, which is low next the water, but rises almost immediately to the height of about 200 feet. As we proceeded, we gradually heard the noise of a full of water; and being presently obliged to strike more inland, as the bank became more precipitous, soon obtained a fresh view of the stream running on a much higher level than before, and dashing with great impetuosity down two small cataracts. Just below this, however, where the river turns almost at a right angle, we perceived a much greater spray, as well as a louder sound; and having walked a short distance down the bank, suddenly came upon the principal fall, of whose magnificence I am at a loss to give any adequate description. At the head of the full, or where it commences its principal descent, the river is contracted to about 150 feet in breadth, the channel being hollowed out through a solid rock of gneiss. After falling about fifteen feet, at an angle of 30° with a vertical line, the width of the stream is narrowed to about forty yards, and then, as if mustering its whole force, previous to its final descent, it is precipitated in one vast continuous sheet of water almost perpendicular for ninety feet more. the dashing of the water from such a height produced the usual accompaniment of a cloud of spray, broad columns of which were constantly forced up, like the successive rushes of smoke from a vast furnace, and on this, near the top, a vivid iris or rainbow, was occasionally formed by the bright