334 WINTERED IN ICE. [1851. 



Banks Land. Erected a signal pole with black ball, and left a notice, in 

 lat. 71 8' N., long. 122 48' W. 



September 9. Observed land north-north-east; named it Prince Al- 

 bert's Land, which is continuous with Wollaston and Victoria Land, 

 and extends north to lat. 73 24' N., long. 112 48' W. 



September 11. Ship beset, lat. 72 52' N., long. 117 3' W.,but ice 

 in motion. 



October 8. Since the llth of last month have been drifting in the 

 pack ; narrowly escaped destruction several times, until, with a heavy 

 nip, at three A.M., which listed the ship 3^, we were firmly fixed for the 

 space of nine months in lat, 72 47' N., long. 117 34' W. 



October 10. Took possession of Prince Albert's Land, distant four 

 miles. 



October 18. And, today, of the Princess Koyal Isles, lying in the 

 centre of Prince of Wales Strait, distant four miles from the ship (lat. 

 72 46' N., long. 117 44' W.). There is erected a large cairn, pole, 

 and ball upon its summit ; and have deposited three months' provi- 

 sions for sixty-six men, besides leaving a boat and some ammunition. 



October 21. The Captain, Mr. Court, and party, started to trace 

 this Strait towards north-east. 



October 26. Discovered the entrance into Barrow Strait, in lat. 73 

 30' N., long. 114 14' W., which establishes the existence of a north- 

 west passage. 



October 30. Five musk-oxen shot upon Prince Albert's Land, which 

 terminates our operations for 1850. 



April 18, 1851. This day despatched three travelling parties to 

 search the coast line : Lieutenant Haswell to south-east, towards Wol- 

 laston Land ; Lieutenant Cresswell in direction of Banks Land ; and 

 Mr. Wynniatt, Mate, to north-east; who respectively reached the posi- 

 tions as noted in the margin, and traced the coast as per accompany- 

 ing chart. 



Captain and Mr. Miertsching, the interpreter, communicated with 

 the Esquimaux upon Prince Albert's Land, about sixty miles south of 

 our position, who had previously been met by Lieutenant Haswell. 

 They traced the coast-line as marked in the chart, and state that there 

 are many of their tribes inhabiting the land towards the south, but 

 that they know of none to the northward ; they are a kind, simple peo- 

 ple, and have never before seen the white man, at whom they were evi- 

 dently alarmed. 



July 14. Ice opened without any pressure, and the vessel was 



