1853.] EXAMINE ASSISTANCE SPIT. 353 



the chart so far asunder, nearly deranged my communi- 

 cations, Cape Majendic having been mistaken for Cape 

 Becher, and there our depot was placed. At all positions 

 visited by this division the cairns have been rebuilt ; 

 should they tumble, they still will exhibit remarkable 

 piles. Other observations on this channel will follow 

 hereafter, relating to its uncertain navigation, which will 

 probably dispose of the second question, that of vessels 

 being drifted up, subject to pressure. 



Mount Acland is composed of rubbly magnesian lime- 

 stone, without one trace of vegetation from summit to 

 base ! If I may use the expression, it is awful to behold 

 these mountains of minute stones, difficult, from their 

 loose rubbly nature, to walk upon, and piled up to the 

 highest limits of these ranges. It is really a great relief 

 to find rocks ; and as in the present instance it happened 

 to occur upon an inclined ledge, which furnished suffi- 

 cient material for our beacon, a very conspicuous one was 

 erected. I cannot furnish the honourable baronet with 

 any particulars which may induce him or any other friend 

 to pay it a visit. 



Commander Richards was sent to examine Assistance 

 Spit, as well the ice aground near it, and to try a few 

 heavy charges of 20 Ibs. on the main floe, having fre- 

 quently experienced, in Melville Bay, that even our small 

 blasts at times did great mischief amongst the whaling 

 fleet, causing even distant docks to split unexpectedly ; 

 the use of our powder was not unfrequently condemned. 

 Having erected a beacon on the small island, and com- 

 pleted his other work, he examined the grounded ice, 

 where he found only three fathoms, with seventeen be- 



VOL. i. 2 A 



