1854.] EFFECT OF TIDES. 219 



August, and after a very heavy pull, reached Point Inues 

 in four hours, and as the boat, so heavily encumbered, 

 made in different progress, the supernumeraries volun- 

 teered to march forward to Cape Bowden. 



Moving forward with the gig, accompanied by Dr. 

 Lyall, we reached the floe edge about eight miles to the 

 southward of Baring Rendezvous, and with five hands, 

 the Surgeon, and myself, we commenced dragging the 

 gig over the floe. We were ultimately assisted by Mr. 

 Court, the Sergeant, and one man ; but the work was 

 attended with great labour, and we did not reach the 

 Rendezvous until eight P.M. Notice had been previously 

 forwarded by express courier to the ' Assistance,' direct- 

 ing a party to be advanced to meet me, and intelligence 

 of their approach reaching me at eight A.M. the following 

 morning, I sent to stop them until we came up,. by which 

 means much labour was saved. After a total interval of 

 thirty-seven hours, I was again in command on board 

 the ' Assistance. 3 



During this journey I saw clearly, that without a 

 heavy gale, and probably a fatal result to the vessels, not 

 the remotest chance of their extrication offered this sea- 

 son in time to reach England. 



But my reasons probably had a sounder foundation; 

 indeed I do not imagine were even thought of by those 

 around me. The question, in my mind, was dependent 

 on the tides; and I had well proved, by experiments con- 

 ducted at Beechey Island, Cape Bowden, and the late 

 Winter Quarters, that the flood course did not run from 

 Lancaster Sound through Wellington and the Queen's 

 Channel, but that the northern flood from the Arctic 



