149 



CHAPTER V. 



Dangers of Autumn. Recovery of 'Investigator's' crew. List of 

 Game. Food, but not Fuel. Eain at Melville Island. M. de Bray. 

 Mean Monthly Temperatures. State of the Ice. Increase of Sea 

 Temperature. Shock of the Ice. Arrival of M'Clintock. Corre- 

 spondence on Abandonment. Force devoted to Assistance. He- 

 turn of Shooting Party. Extreme Cold beneath the Snow. Expe- 

 riments on Snow Covering. Establish four Posts for Sledges. 



THE following is from the customary correspondence, 

 not private, but demi-official and explanatory : all pri- 

 vate matters omitted, as well as those not bearing upon 

 the critical position of the ' Resolute.' It is evident no 

 open water was noticed before August 18th, and the 

 26th, that season, closed even upon Beechey Island ! This 

 winter also has been infinitely more severe. 



" There must have been a sea of water here, but so 

 late that the sludge which brought us up (sticking like 

 birdlime) must have made as fast as the pack went east- 

 erly. There must always be a block amongst the islands 

 until the season is far advanced, when the strong winds 

 break the floe up into pack sufficiently small to get 

 through. You will see, by the chart I send you, how I 

 have been driving about these straits, and also that there 



