1852.] REACH BEECHEY ISLAND. 75 



with several balls, but eventually retired. This, added 

 to the bear, became a most valuable acquisition to our 

 dogs' food, which had now become very nearly expended. 



Shortly after five P.M. we sighted the 'Resolute' and 

 ' North Star,' secured to the floe under Beechey Island, 

 and before seven the 'Assistance' was also fast beside 

 them. When Captain Kellett came on board, to report 

 proceedings since our separation, I found that he had 

 reached Cape York, and communicated with the natives, 

 on the day after, or the night succeeding, my visit, but 

 had not the slightest intimation of their having been 

 visited by us ; and strange enough, he saw the boat-hook 

 which I had presented to them. As he did not call at 

 Cape York, Cape Dudley Digges, or Cape Warrender, 

 he had not met with my notices, nor knew of my having 

 passed those stations. 



On the 12th August, accompanied by Captain Kellett, 

 and also by an official party under Commander Richards, 

 a close search was made of every likely spot on Beechey Is- 

 land, but without discovery of further traces. The graves 

 were dug into, but found so firmly frozen that no pro- 

 spect offered by further disturbance ; they were therefore 

 replaced, and completed anew. Upon viewing the spot 

 carefully, I was strongly of opinion that the ships under 

 Sir J. Franklin did not winter on the southern side of 

 Beechey Island, but were in Union Bay. Upon a very 

 careful review of the ground, there are several points, 

 which must have occurred to Sir John Franklin and his 

 talented seconds, which, in my mind, would have pre- 

 vented them from selecting the southern bay. In the 

 first place, it was at once the opinion of Captain Kellett, 



