DISCOVERY OF THE NORTH-WEST PASSAGE. 421 



succeeded in killing a fine herd of musk-oxen, consisting 

 of three bulls, a cow, and a calf, and yielding a supply 

 of twelve hundred and ninety-six pounds of solid meat. 



During the first fortnight in December the temper- 

 ature of the external air ranged from 23 to 37 below 

 zero, whilst between decks from -f-40 to -j-50 was 

 tie average. From the 9th January, 1851, to the 16th, 

 was the coldest period on board the Investigator the 

 thermometer showing 40 to 50 below zero. 



Early one dark and icy morning in January, a man 

 named John Eames was walking out upon the floe, 

 when he saw a small herd of reindeer trot by. " It is 

 pretty evident," says M'Clure, "that, during the whole 

 winter, animals may be found in these straits, and that 

 the want of sufficient light alone prevents our larder 

 being stored with fresh food." " Subsequent observa- 

 tion, 7 ' says Commander Osborne, " has completely over- 

 thrown the idea that the reindeer, musk-ox, or other 

 animals inhabiting the archipelago of islands north of 

 America, migrate southward to avoid an Arctic winter. 

 Throughout Banks's Land, Melville Island, Bathurst, 

 and Cornwallis Land, there have been found indubitable 

 proofs of the reindeer, bear, musk-ox, marmot, wolf, 

 hare, and ptarmigan, - -in short, all the Fauna of these 

 climes, - wintering in the latitudes in which they 

 are found during the summer." A raven, which had 

 haunted the ship during the period of cold and dark- 

 ness, left it before the sun reappeared, and his departure 

 was sensibly felt by every one on board. 



Early in March, 1851, a whale-boat was carried on 

 sledges, with much labor, to the Princess Royal Island, 

 and a depot established of three months' victualling for 

 the entire crew. In April three sledges were laden 

 with provisions for six weeks, and, with six men to each 

 sledge, were sent on different courses. One sledge, 



