274 RICHARDSON'S AND RAE'S EXPLORATIONS. 



that it would open for ship navigation later in the 

 season. 



" I regretted extremely that the state of the ice pre- 

 vented me from crossing to Wollaston Land, and thus 

 completing, in one season, the whole scheme of their 

 lordships' instructions. The opening between Wollas- 

 ton and Victoria Lands has always appeared to me to 

 possess great interest ; for through it the flood-tide evi- 

 dently sets into Coronation Gulf, diverging to the west- 

 ward by the Dolphin and Union Strait, and to the east- 

 ward round Cape Alexander. By the fifth clause of Sir 

 John Franklin's instructions, he is directed to steer 

 south-westward from Cape Walker, which would lead 

 him nearly in the direction of the strait in question. If 

 Sir John found Barrow's Strait as open as when Sir 

 Edward Parry passed it on four previous occasions, I 

 am convinced that (complying as exactly as he could 

 with his instructions, and without looking into Welling- 

 ton Sound, or other openings either to the south or north 

 of Barrow's Strait) he pushed directly west to Cape 

 Walker, and from thence south-westwards. If so, the 

 ships were probably shut up on some of the passages 

 between Victoria, Banks', and Wollaston Lands. 



" Being apprehensive that the boats I left on the 

 coast would be broken up by the Esquimaux, and being, 

 moreover, of opinion that the examination of the open- 

 ing in question might be safely and efficiently performed 

 in the only remaining boat I had fit for the transport 

 from Bear Lake to the Coppermine, I determined to 

 intrust this important service to Mr. Rae, who volun- 

 teered, and whose ability and zeal in the cause I cannot 

 too highly commend. He selected an excellent crew, 

 all of them experienced voyageurs, and capable of find- 

 ing their way back to Bear Lake without guides, should 

 any unforeseen accident deprive them of their leader. 



