34 S CANAL COMPLETED. \Jldy, 



citement, no surprise, they were almost outlined in Au- 

 gust and September last, even before quitting England ! 

 The last speech at the gun-room table, on the evening 

 before separation from our consorts at Beechey Island, 

 was the injunction to the ' Resolute's,' " to observe the 

 Rendezvous." Most gratefully and joyfully did I find 

 iny old shipmate beside me at dinner, relating his adven- 

 tures ; but his appetite was gone : after his musk-ox and 

 venison feeding, he could not relish even a fair (pickled) 

 Hogarth steak ! So much for depraved taste : I know 

 he does not admire walrus. But the main topic was the 

 wonderful and peculiar discovery of the 'Investigator's' 

 position on the return of Lieutenant Mecham. Will 

 the cavillers at the expense of this Expedition now deem 

 it absurd ? May not Collinson yet be fortunate enough 

 to overtake his second, and reach England quite as soon ? 

 But many a weary mile is yet to be travelled ere we all 

 reassemble at Beechey Island, and there only perhaps to 

 form fresh plans for the extrication of some unfortunate 

 members of our own Expedition ! 



Richards was truly surprised to find our exit from this 

 position no longer doubtful ; for hardly had the cloth been 

 removed, when it was reported that " the canal was open 

 and ship afloat," a service executed in twenty-six work- 

 ing hours by sixty -four men. 



On the summit, and within the cairn on Mount Beau- 

 fort, four hundred rations were deposited, duly secured 

 in iron-bound casks. The staff surmounting is well 

 marked with a tinned light flour-barrel at its summit; 

 and several bands of lead nailed on spirally, bearing the 

 requisite instructions cut with metal type-punches, put all 



