472 RELICS OF FRANKLIN. 



(chief), as he had a telescope strapped over nis shoul- 

 ders, and a double-barrelled gun lay underneath him. 



"From the mutilated state of many of the bodies, 

 and the contents of the kettles, it is evident that our 

 wretched countrymen had been driven to the dread 

 alternative of cannibalism as a means of sustaining life. 

 A few of the unfortunate men must have survived until 

 the arrival of the wild-fowl (say until the end of May), 

 as shots were heard, and fresh bones and feathers of 

 geese were noticed near the scene of the sad event. 



" There appears to have been an abundant store of 

 ammunition, as the gunpowder was emptied by the 

 natives in a heap on the ground out of the kegs or cases 

 containing it, and a quantity of shot and ball was found 

 below high-water mark, having probably been left on 

 the ice close to the beach before the spring commenced. 

 There must have been a number of telescopes, guna 

 (several of them double-barrelled), watches, compasses, 

 &c., all of which seem to have been broken up, as I 

 saw pieces of these different articles with the natives, 

 and I purchased as many as possible, together with 

 some silver spoons and forks, an Order of Merit in the 

 form of a star, and a small silver plate engraved ' Sir 

 John Franklin, K.C.B.' " 



Dr. Rae concludes by expressing the opinion that no 

 violence had been offered to the sufferers by the natives, 

 but that they were starved to death. The following is 

 a list of the articles obtained from the Esquimaux : 

 One silver table-fork -- crest, an animal's head with 

 wings extended above ; three silver table-forks - - crest, 

 a bird with wings extended ; one silver table-spoon 

 crest, with initials " F. R. M. C." (Captain Crozier, Ter- 

 ror) ; one silver table-spoon and one fork - - crest, bird 

 with laurel-branch in mouth, motto, " Spero meliora;' 

 one silver table-spoon, one tea-spoon, and one dessert- 



