a smart breeze, I determined to start, and push on after the men at all hazards. At four o'clock in the morning, all of the crew that were on board were called; and at six, Mr. Petersen and I started, accompanied by Thompson, one of the seamen whom I had appointed to attend to the dogs, and also by one of Mr. Goodsir's sledge crew, who had been sent back to the ships for a floor-cloth that had been forgotten. After eight hours of uninterrupted driving I arrived at the advanced depôt, which was at least forty-five miles from the ships, where I found encamped the entire party that went on before me, having left the ships on the evening of the 6th. At a quarter-past 2 P. M., we encamped and had dinner. The five sledges, exclusive of the two dog sledges, were filled up out of the depôt, and were ready to start at 8 P. M. I accompanied them up along the land, and parted with the three that were to cross the Channel to the east side, having given them their instructions, with every caution to be careful of the peoples' feet from frost-bites and other accidents. At 11 P. M. started again, and advanced six miles further, where we encamped at a distance of fifty-one miles from the ships. The three sledges that started to cross the Channel had a fair wind, and were lost sight of with their sails set. Temperature -3° to -10°. At May 10th. At 1 A. M., I passed Mr. Marshall, mate, and Mr. Goodsir, surgeon, in charge of a party of two sledges. They had most laborious work of it among deep snow, for the sledges were very heavily laden, and required double journeys to be made until they reached my encampment. They accomplished seven miles before they halted. noon the sun was obscured; however, at half-past 3 P. M., we got sights for the time-piece. Our encampment was on a low flat point, in the vicinity of the entrance of a remarkable ravine. The point I called after Mr. Petersen, to whose services the expedition which I commanded is very much indebted. At half-past 6 P. M. we started from Point Petersen and had a splendid drive, passing a deep bay, which I named after Dr. Kaine, a highly intelligent medical officer in the American Expedition. On the north side of Kaine Bay we came to three table bluffs, which had between them two shallow bays. These also were passed, and then we opened out another bay, on the north side of which we encamped. Our eyes were very much affected, consequently the bay in which we were encamped was called Snow-blind Bay. The ice over which we had to make our last journey appeared to be at least three years old. The distance must have been about thirty miles, following the sledge track. Temperature +9° to +11°. We had an unsuccessful hunt after a bear around the north-east point of Cornwallis Island. This point forms the northern boundary of Wellington Channel on this side. May 11th. Poor Petersen and I snow-blind; eyes very painful; dull heavy weather, winds westerly, from which causes we were prevented starting. The Wellington Channel extends due north, to latitude 75° 22', to the above-mentioned headland, which was named Cape de Haven, out of compliment to the Commander of the American Expedition, who so nobly came out in search of our lost countrymen. From Cape de Haven, the land trends away to the westward and northward for about ten miles, where there is a second prominent point. Temperature +9° to +11°; weather still cloudy, and sky overcast at midnight. Monday, May 12th.-There was a very bright sunshine and a powerful glare, which affected our eyes very much, so that we were obliged to put off starting till evening. At 7 P. M. we started, and proceeded round Cape de Haven, and to the point beyond it, which we reached in two hours. At this point I ascended a hill about four hundred feet high, from which I could see land stretching from the opposite side of the Wellington Channel northward to a point bearing about N. E., and appearing to be |