1854.] PROCEEDINGS OF LIEUTENANT HAMILTON. 199 



Lieutenant Hamilton, with the dog-sledge, was de- 

 spatched by Captain Kellett to Dealy Island on the 8th 

 of May, charged with orders for Lieutenant Mecham 

 and Mr. Krabbe, to return from thence direct, via Cape 

 Cockburn, to Beechey Island. 



Reaching Dealy Island on the ISth, overland, from 

 Port Griffiths, in the hope of finding musk-oxen or deer 

 for his dogs, but in which he was unsuccessful, he de- 

 posited his despatches and commenced his return. He 

 contrived, however, at Cape Bounty to kill two musk-oxen, 

 and twenty-two ptarmigan supplied their own wants. 



On the 21st he quitted Dealy Island, and reached the 

 depot on Byam Martin Island on the 27th. Two dogs 

 out of his five became useless ; and the thaw, and other 

 difficulties attending dog-sledges in wet weather, retard- 

 ed him much, so that he was overtaken by the heavy 

 sledges. 



At Cape Cockburn one dog rejoined, but the other 

 was lost. He returned, as before stated, with Mr. 

 Krabbe, on the 12th. Four bears only were seen in 

 his journey, and none came within shot, and he ob- 

 serves : " Notwithstanding my local knowledge of the 

 hunting grounds of Melville Island, and the time I was 

 enabled to devote to shooting, not more than 300 Ibs. of 

 meat was procured, and I should have found great diffi- 

 culty in supporting my small party of one man and five 

 dogs on the much-talked-of ' resources of the country.' 



That these three officers, with their fine crews, did 

 their duty, must be apparent to the simplest mind ; but 

 that they will receive all the weight due to such exer- 

 tions they have only to look to their Lordships and their 



