110 OBJECTS OF SEARCH. [February, 



6. It is a puzzling question to arrive at any precise period of parallel 

 temperature. The guess of last year, although exact in every essential 

 point, does not appear to conform this season to the general deduction 

 resulting from the reports of my predecessors. Nevertheless, I will 

 advise you to quit on the first decided rise of temperature after the 

 10th of March, and to nurse your crews from that date until the 23rd,* 

 after which I consider absolute winter at an end and spring suddenly 

 to commence. 



7. Your first position will be on the east point of Assistance Bay, 

 where Captain Kellett deposited 630 rations, less probably by 130 

 taken by the sledge crew which passed to the 'North Star;' 500 may 

 therefore remain, to be examined by the relief parties following your 

 traces. 



8. Having reached this position, you will at once be able to discover 

 whether the ' Intrepid ' has been in the neighbourhood, or left any 

 record of her movements or those of the ' Resolute.' 



9. If any traces be there found, of course it will interfere, in some 

 measure, with your westerly journey, unless the ' Intrepid' alone has 

 progressed. 



10. If the ' Intrepid' has left records of her easterly advance, then 

 the orders to Commander Pullen, Lieutenants May and Cheyne, must 

 be vigorously earned out. 



11. Your precise duty is, to find Captain Kellett, to deliver to him 

 the accompanying instructions, furnish him with every information he 

 may require, and return to me with all possible despatch. 



12. During your journey to the 'Resolute' you will decide on the 

 most appropriate positions for depots. At present the islands appear 

 to furnish the most direct lines. But you must take into consideration 

 that as spring advances they must become surrounded by water and 

 access barred ! It will therefore be incumbent on you to fix upon de- 

 cided points where the crew of ' Investigator' or Captain Kellett may 

 be certain of finding supplies without disturbing those especially set 

 aside for the relief of our distressed countrymen. 



13. Captain Kellett' s second cache appears to be " about three 

 miles west of Alison's Inlet," and at present probably consisting of 

 1000 rations. However, it is probable that Captain Kellett, being 

 detained near this spot, landed the provisions. You will examine the 



* This should be 31st, adding eight days for the later season. These 

 orders were written in January. 



