I S 53.] PATCHES OF WATER NOTICKD. 299 



the north-west direction the sea presented several large 

 pools and lanes leading towards Table Island and west- 

 erly ; but this was more especially evident in those 

 localities where I knew the tide to prevail with peculiar 

 force. Several snow-buntings and two plovers were 

 noticed. One or two lumps of inferior coal, jutting out 

 of the general debris of mud and limestone ; one rocky 

 clump of clay ironstone, much broken up by frost into 

 large rhomboidal masses, and some few pieces of selenite 

 were picked up. One would almost imagine that this 

 particular mineral had the value of gold ; it was secreted 

 by the finders, and obtained a variety of names, that 

 most prevalent was mica or talc. Shortly after mid- 

 night we moved forward to rejoin the ' Dauntless,' which, 

 although hampered by the boat, had gained greatly in 

 advance. The sun was oppressive, and as our men were 

 much fagged, we pitched, at the usual hour, about half- 

 way between Cape Parker and Princess Royal Island, 

 and one mile from the ' Dauntless.' Shortly before noon, 

 whilst engaged in taking my customary round of angles, 

 I noticed three dark objects in the field of the telescope, 

 and that they were in motion on the side of a hill : it 

 was very soon evident that they were musk-oxen, the first 

 clear proof which we had of their existing on this side of 

 the Queen's Channel. I also noticed on the inner end 

 of Princess Royal Island a cairn and staff, by which I 

 felt assured that our relief party had arrived, and, curi- 

 ously enough, to the very day I appointed, although I did 

 not intend to meet them when I parted with Mr. Allard. 

 On the 5th, about eight P.M., we moved forward for 

 the island; the weather hazy and unpromising. Shortly 



