RETURN TO THE SHIP. 649 



upon a return journey to the ships, the sledge upon 

 which she was mounted being pointed in that direction. 

 She measured twenty-eight feet in length by seven and 

 a half feet wide, v ;:s most carefully fitted, and made as 

 light as possible, but the sledge was of solid oak, and 

 almost as heavy as the bout. 



Having prosecuted his search until within a few days 7 

 march of Cape Herschell, the southernmost point of King 

 William's Land, without finding any trace of the wrecked 

 ships or of natives, Hobson set out on his return to the 

 Fox, taking with him from the boat such relics as could 

 conveniently be carried, and leaving there full informa- 

 tion of his discoveries for the use of Oapt. M'Clintock, 

 when he should arrive at that point. 



The latter officer, making the circuit of the island 

 from the eastern side, proceeded northward from Cape 

 Herschell over the ground already searched by Lieut. 

 Hobson. 



"Soon after leaving Cape Herschell/' he says, "the 

 traces of natives became less numerous and less recent, 

 and after rounding the west point of the island they 

 ceased altogether. This shore is extremely low, and 

 almost utterly destitute of vegetation. Numerous banks 

 of shingle and low islets lie oft' it, and beyond these 

 Victoria Strait is covered with heavy and impenetrable 

 packed ice." 



He came upon the boat above described, and there 

 found the notice of Hobson's discoveries. On the 5th 

 of June he reached Point Victory, without having found 

 anything further. The clothing and other articles were 

 again examined for documents, note-books, &c., without 

 success, a record placed in the cairn, and another buried 

 ten feet due north of it. 



On the 19th of June he reached the ship, five days 

 after the arrival of Lieut. Hobson. On the 28th of June 



