1853.] REPAIR DAMAGES. 237 



Franklin close to vis. Ice very uneven in-shore, and the 

 stupendous hummocks which line the coast, and which 

 must have been pressed up by a succession of north- 

 west gales, are between seventy and eighty feet high : 

 I should say that they have stood the thaw of many 

 summers, and seem little aifected thereby. The old floe 

 which we picked up yesterday did not carry us to the 

 south shore, but a narrow belt of new ice intervenes. 

 At 12.30 we landed on the south shore of the Queen's 

 Channel, and planted the Union. The depot was placed 

 on a sloping point, about eighty feet above the sea-level, 

 and one mile from the summit of Cape Lady Franklin, 

 east of it. The point is projecting, and is computed to 

 be the nearest land to Spit Island ; the heaviest hum- 

 mocks of ice are grounded on it. The depot consists of 

 the boat turned bottom up, with the other stores placed 

 under it. Over the boat a flag was hoisted, and the cus- 

 tomary record in a tin cylinder left." 



The vegetation on that shore appeared to be more 

 abundant as well as forward ; traces of deer noticed ; 

 formation similar. Ascended the higher land; noticed 

 eight or ten deer feeding in pairs in the valley westward : 

 two passed within fifty yards, the doe and fawn. The 

 return to the ship is but the outward journey reversed. 

 Canvas boots approved, as well as blanket wrappers. 

 Carpet boots decried for travelling, causing sore heels to 

 those who used them. Commander Richards is satisfied 

 with the allowance of provision, but objects reasonably 

 to mixture of penimican and preserved meats. 



The sledges have been much strained by rough ice : 

 that belonging to Commander Richards so much shaken 



