226 FALSE DEER-TRACKS. [MaTC/t, 



us to throw across our depots, avoiding some days' trou- 

 blesome and circuitous travelling. Accompanied by Mr. 

 Loney, and a sledge crew of six, with four days' provi- 

 sion, and the Cape York dogs, we started this morning 

 about eight A.M., under the " Blanche" banner " Bright 

 eyes for brave hearts." The bright eyes prevailed : 

 temperature 5, wind in our teeth ! We reached the 

 entrance of this creek about noon, where we lunched, 

 and I ascended the peninsula, to make sure which of two 

 openings I would select. The south-eastern appearing 

 to offer greater advantages, I decided on it. As we ad- 

 vanced, the deep ravines and steep beetling cliffs seemed 

 to invite a more distant lead of inlet easterly. The wind 

 was now not only sharp, but strong from the south-east, 

 rendering it difficult, over polished ice, denuded by the 

 wind at every swell, from keeping our feet or making 

 progress. This was more particularly experienced under 

 the glacier of Mount Blanche, and its high cape within, 

 which reminded me of the gales off Cape Sicie of old 

 (do they blow since the Peace ?), and this appellation I 

 bestowed upon it. It resulted clearly from the configu- 

 ration of the land, as the breeze altogether ceased as we 

 passed into the depth beyond. Recent deer-marks,* or 

 those of musk-oxen, were noticed on the snow patches of 

 the peninsula, but side by side, as if four animals had 

 walked abreast. But these snow indentations are so very 

 deceptive, that I do not place great reliance on them : 

 one head is worth a thousand feet. Our journey ended 



* They were not deer-marks, and the late appearances in this coun- 

 try induce me to think that this form is frequently produced by snow- 

 drift. 



