234 BARRED FROM PORT DUNDAS. 



stolen from Cape Warren der, it occurred to me that if 

 they possessed other papers, I might, by the expendi- 

 ture of some trivial stores, particularly of timber, obtain 

 all that they possessed, and amongst them possibly find 

 some clue to the fate of our missing countrymen. Most 

 certainly I was prepared to go further, and, should their 

 information lead to any inference of unfair measures on 

 the southern coast, adopt, perhaps, very strong measures 

 to completely carry out my duty. 



On entering Croker Bay, all these matters received a 

 serious check by the ice having closed in upon the land; 

 and taking into consideration the reports of the ice be- 

 setting the mouth of Lancaster Sound, I determined 

 to seek the only outlet which the experience of former 

 Arctic navigators pointed out as likely to be available. 

 Each had experienced a strong current setting easterly 

 along the southern side of the Strait, and the ' Enter- 

 prise' had, during an adverse gale blowing up the Strait, 

 been drifted forty miles to windward in twenty-four 

 hours. This fact clearly indicated to my mind the cause 

 of the ice now pressing on the northern coast. It was 

 simply the eddy of that great current, caused, in all pro- 

 bability, by ice abutting about Cape Warrender and ex- 

 tending thence into Baffin's Bay. 



I immediately decided on following up the tail of this 

 ice and rounding it. In this decision the Ice-master and 

 others did not coincide with me, it is true ; but they had 

 not studied these matters, and had no reasons to give. 

 As we reached the southern edge, I clearly saw indica- 

 tions of an opening ; and the Ice-master, at length wa- 

 vering, hailed from the crow's-nest, " If you intend, Sir, 



