1853.] CAPE DISAPPOINTMENT. 281 



have been brought from below. The orifice at the apex 

 was about three feet in diameter, and the covering-stone 

 had been left open, by which it became partially filled 

 with snow. The general impression was that it was of 

 recent construction : no trace of age was visible, although 

 every adjacent stone on the mount bore a most rugged, 

 barren, weother-worn, and lichen-covered aspect. I would 

 have named it Mount Desolation, but Cape Disappoint- 

 ment was substituted. 



Every instant I expected to hear some shout of sur- 

 prise ; but all was mystery, no document, European or 

 Esquimaux. Its position was in itself curious, standing 

 on a shoulder of the hill, commanding a view up and 

 down the strait, and about five hundred feet above the 

 level ; the ascent also very fatiguing. I cannot imagine it 

 to be a cache, for it would be mere amusement to a bear 

 to dismantle such a structure. At one time I fancied it 

 built for temporary shelter ; but it was a work of too 

 much time for such an object, and, situated as this was, 

 no such idea could be entertained. 



On reaching the base we were rejoined by the ' Daunt- 

 less,' and again moved forward ; Mr. Grove had killed 

 one ptarmigan. They were again despatched on a spe- 

 cial mission to the opposite coast, whilst we continued 

 ii long the western shore. Proceeding to the nearest spit 

 point, we pitched, and fortunately killed two ptarmigan. 

 The coast here is cut up by mountain streams (when do 

 they run ?) into all imaginable terraces and ravines, lead- 

 ing one to imagine that at some time this strait must be 

 all in commotion ; possibly it froze when it last was so, 

 for the ice at present does not lead one to imagine that 



