1853.] PREPARATION FOR SEARCH NORTHERLY. 301 



ing only a few miles in latitude, had been visited, but no 

 accounts of Captain Kellctt or his division. Mr. Her- 

 bert, the last detached officer from Commander Richards, 

 had returned, reporting, " All well, doing well, and in 

 high spirits ; Lieutenant May yet expected." 



The wind had now set in strong from the northward 

 and westward, attended by thick weather and snow. 

 About two A.M. the relief party rejoined, bringing up the 

 drpot from the southern shore. 



June 7. I had now made my arrangements to pro- 

 ceed with the ' Hamilton,' accompanied by the ' Lady 

 Franklin,' Dr. Lyall, with fifteen days' provision, to the 

 islands, and to send the sledge and tent, with remaining 

 provisions (fifteen days'), to the mainland, inside of the 

 island. The 'Enterprise' and ' Dauntless,' taking up all 

 caches, were to remove them, depositing at Star Bluff 

 five days', at Depot Bay five days', and Village Point five 

 days', and bearing additional orders to the Commanding 

 Officer at the ship to send Mr. Pym with the light whale- 

 boat, already fitted under my own inspection as an ice- 

 boat, to be in readiness to aid should the water make 

 from Village Point. 



At first I had intended to go alone, but I soon per- 

 ceived that the crew could not drag thirty days' provision 

 in the boat alone, added to instruments and other heavy 

 requisites. It was fortunate that I changed my purpose 

 in time ; a few hours later would have entailed greater 

 labour than we alone could have mastered. Our num- 

 bers now amounted to eighteen men and officers, with 

 seventeen days' provision. Two men were sent back 

 with instructions "that 'Dauntless' crew were to await 



