1852.] TRACES OF GOLD FOUND. 125 



was under the slope of a long tongue from Mount Percy, 

 forming the channel between that island and the main. 



The next morning we moved on to Glacier Bluff, and 

 Commander Richards ascended the mountain which caps 

 it (named Blanche, after one of the Banner ladies), whilst 

 we were engaged constructing a cairn beneath. One of 

 the crew, noticing a bright streak on one of the stones 

 struck by the pickaxe, exclaimed, " Gold, Sir!" As the 

 rock was a heavy piece of quartz, I stooped to inspect 

 it ; but thinking it to be merely a vein of iron pyrites, 

 ordered it to remain undisturbed, as I was then using 

 the instrument, and ultimately a piece was broken off 

 for future examination. The large piece was also in- 

 serted in the pile, with a case of pemmican, to await our 

 return. There was little fear of desertion to these dig- 

 gings ! However, I kept the development of our riches 

 for our return. On this expedition I also brought the 

 dog-sledge and three of our Cape York dogs, which car- 

 ried me and about forty pounds' weight of instruments 

 very cleverly. From the summit of Mount Blanche 

 the highest in this region Commander Richards had a 

 good view, reporting "the ice close and apparently firm." 



This Point received the name of Pemmican Station, 

 and is the commanding jutting tongue of the northern 

 narrows, or the pre-supposed neck of what we had be- 

 lieved to be Percy Peninsula, but now clearly defined as 

 a very narrow boat-channel. 



We pitched our tent for the night on the outer head 

 of this entrance or bight of Baring Straits (?), giving 

 it the name of Point Repose. The terraced nature of 

 the land here afforded good shelter, on fine gravel, from 



