southern route, the squadron soon came in sight of Cary Isles, and then of the flat-topped region between Cape York and Dudley Digges. The steamers then rapidly advanced on their homeward way. On the 28th of August they reached Wolstenholme Island. Here they were stopped by the floating ice; and anchoring fast to an iceberg, they awaited the first opening which might occur. Here began traces again of the nomade Esquimaux; and thus they seemed to have returned to communion with the rest of mankind. By the 1st of September the vessels still remained closely packed in the ice; and nothing appeared to the view from the mast-head, except the boundless horizon of the frozen ocean. It was nevertheless necessary for Captain Osborn to make a bold push of some description, to be released from his confinement, for starvation itself might soon surprise his associates in their imprisonment. In a day or two a fortunate slackening of the ice encouraged them to attempt on entering. So difficult and slow was their progress, that they did not advance more than the ship's length during the period, and after the labors, of an hour. By dint of constant screwing and heaving, however, some advance was made. Gradually the sea became more open; and then the powers of the steam-engine were brought into play. A moment's further delay might have secured their detention for the whole winter, in those inhospitable and frozen climes. After a day of excessive exertions, the ships had wormed their way through the floating ice to the open sea which lay to the south of it, and thus again were free. On the 5th of September the squadron commenced its unobstructed voyage of return to England. In eight days they reached the latitude of Cape Farewell, and at length safely anchored at Grimby, in the River Humber, precisely three weeks after the commencement of their homeward-bound voyage. The expedition had indeed failed either to rescue Sir John 66 Franklin, or even to solve the great mystery of his fate; nevertheless it had made assurance doubly sure" that he had not been lost in the regions which they had visited, but that he must have proceeded on his adventurous way to a very remote and unequaled extreme of northern latitude. It ascertained that, if he had perished at all, he had perished in the execution of one of the boldest and most desperate resolutions ever entertained by man, to explore if possible, the utmost limits of the accessible earth; and to arrive as near to the North Pole as it was possible for human heroism, endurance, and determination to approach. But other interesting and valuable researches were made by this expedition, which deserve notice. These established the fact that the Esquimaux tribes which now inhabit portions of the Arctic Zone, were once very numerous along the whole northern shore of Barrow's Straits and Lancaster Sound, and that formerly the Esquimaux were among the most widely diffused races on the earth, so far as superficial extent is concerned. From Melville Island on the west, to the isolated inhabitants of Northern Greenland, called Arctic Highlands, many strange and ancient remains were discovered in various sheltered nooks and corners on the shore, such as rude houses, cachés, hunting posts, and graves, which clearly proved that inhabitants once dwelt in this sad and solitary clime, who have now either become exterminated, or have emigrated to some more genial region. The origin of this people seems to have been in the north-eastern extremity of Asia; for on the banks of the Lena and the Indigirka, and along the whole extent of the frozen Tundra, which faces the Polar Seas, as well as in New Siberia, the same species of circular stone huts, the same whalebone rafters, the same rude axes made of stones, and the same primitive implements of the chase, are still found to exist, and are used alike by the Esquimaux of Hudson Straits and Greenland, the Innuit of North America, and the Tchuktches of Behring's Straits. It is probable, therefore, that these people first reached the American continent from the east of Asia. The Tchuktches are the only tribe of Siberia who have maintained their independence; and have defied, assisted by the horrid rigors of nature, the overwhelming power of Russia. The other tribes of Siberia narrate how one of the races called by them the Omoki, whose homes were as numerous on the banks of the Lena as the stars of an Arctic night, did formally remove to unknown regions; supposed by them to be in a north-eastern direction. They also tell of another tribe, termed the Onkillon, who, having been attacked by the Tchuktches, took shelter in a distant land to the northward from Cape Jakan. This land has now been found actually to exist in that direction. These people eventually reached the shores of Davis' Straits and the Atlantic Ocean; and some of them even advanced as far as Lancaster Sound, along the Parry Group. Compelled by the necessities of food, and attracted by the products of fishing and hunting, they eventually reached Behring's Straits; and thus this unfortunate race extended over a vast proportion of those inhospitable but habitable realms which lie nearest to the Pole. Among the proofs of this fact furnished by the researches of Captain Osborn's expedition, may be mentioned the following: Ruins of the description already mentioned, were found between Bathurst and Cornwallis Land, on the whole southern shore of Cornwallis Island, on Capes Spencer and Riley, on Radstock Bay, Ommaney Harbor, Cape Warrender, and on the shores of Jones' Sound. Formerly, also, many Esquimaux lived even at the head of Baffin's Bay. On the coast northward of Cape York, many deserted villages and dead bodies have been found; clearly indicating the existence of a people who have now either become ex tinct, or have congregated in a less rigorous locality. All these tribes and races, whatever they may have been, undoubtedly belonged to the general Esquimaux family, who first originated in the north-eastern extremity of Asia. ARCTIC SEARCHING EXPEDITION; A JOURNAL OF A BOAT THE Commander of this expedition was directed by the British admiralty to leave England in a mailsteamer for Halifax and New York; and from the latter place to proceed to Montreal, in order to confer with Sir George Simpson, governor of the Hudson Bay company's settlements. He was ordered thence to travel by Lake Huron to Saut Ste. Marie and Lake Superior, and there embark with a small crew, and sail along the chain of lakes until he overtook Mr. Bell, whom it was supposed he would find at Isle a la Crosse. With four boats well adapted to this service, Sir John Richardson was ordered to proceed and examine the extensive North American coast between the Mackenzie and Coppermine Rivers. Passing the winter at Fort Good Hope, or Confidence, near Great Bear Lake, he was directed in the following spring to resume his journey, and explore the passages between Wollaston, Banks', and Victoria Lands, so as to cross the routes of Sir J. C. Ross' detached parties; and thence to return again to Great Bear Lake. It was hoped that this comparatively novel and untried direction of search, might probably reveal some satisfactory indications or memorials of the fate and situation of Sir John Franklin. The length of this interior navigation to the Arctic Sea from Montreal, is about 4,400 miles. Sixteen hundred of these are performed on the Mackenzie River and its tributaries. The boats employed in this expedition measured 30 feet in length, six in breadth, three in depth; and were provided with masts, sails, oars, anchors, and tools; and each weighed half a ton. A crew of five men was deemed sufficient for each. Among the seamen selected to man the boats, were sappers, miners, carpenters, blacksmiths, armorers, and engineers. These four boats properly provisioned, were embarked, together with the men of the expedition, on board the "Prince of Wales" and "Westminster," bound to York Factory, one of the posts of the Hudson Bay company; and there both ships eventually arrived, after a stormy passage, with the boats and their respective crews. In May, 1851, Sir John Richardson and his chief associate, Mr. Rae, left the house of Mr. Ballenden, at Saut Ste. Marie, near Lake Superior, and entered on the active duties of their expedition. We will omit some details of their travels, as long as these continue through those intermediate regions which are not directly connected with the Arctic Zone; and which throw but little light upon the peculiarities of that remote portion of the earth. The expedition pursued its designated route, until at length they entered the estuary of the Mackenzie River. At four o'clock in the morning they embarked, and crossing a shallow bar at the end of a sand-bank, they steered between Richards' Island and the main land. They soon perceived about 200 Esquimaux coming toward them in their canoes, and three umiaks filled with women and children. It was necessary to beat off these intruders, who by hanging on to the sides of the boats impeded their progress; nor were the voyagers certain that no hostile attack was intended by these half-starved and importunate semi savages. As soon as these two parties in the several boats came in contact, a buisy scene of barter began to be enacted. The Esquimaux had arrows, bows, knives |