148 CAPE HOTHAM. Chap. X. 



This day six years, when in command of the ' Intrepid,' we 

 sailed from here for Melville Island in company with the 

 ' Resolute.' Again I was here and frozen up in the 'North 

 Star' at this date in 1854, and doubts were entertained of 

 the possibility of escape. 



To-day it is only a fortnight since I set out for the native 

 village in Pond's Inlet, under guidance of an old woman ; 

 whilst I was so engaged our little vessel had a most pro- 

 vidential escape from being crushed against the cliffs. This 

 day week was spent in contending with a furious gale, 

 during which the ship had nearly been driven to leeward 

 and dashed to pieces by the sea-beaten pack. It is to 

 be hoped the poor ' Fox ' has many more lives to spare, as 

 it is only now that the real interest of her voyage commences. 



Monday night, 16th Aug. — Sailed from Beechey Island 

 this morning, and this evening we landed at Cape Hotham. 

 A small depot of provisions and three boats were left here 

 by former expeditions ; of the depot all has been destroyed 

 with the exception of two casks landed in 1850. The boats 

 were sound, but several of their oars, which had been 

 secured upright as marks, lest they should be hidden by 

 snow, were found broken down by bears — those inquisitive 

 animals having a decided antipathy to anything " stuck up " — 

 such a position being both unusual and unnatural in this 

 bleak country. Fragments of the depot and the broken 

 oars were tossed about in every direction. Numerous 

 records were found ; to the most recent a few lines were 

 added, stating that we had removed the two whale-boats — 

 one to be left at Port Leopold, the other to replace our 

 own crushed by the ice. 



I'jth. — Last night battling against a strong foul wind with 

 sea, in rain and fog. To-day much loose ice is seen south- 

 ward of Griffith's Island. The weather improved this after- 

 noon, and we shot gallantly past Limestone Island, and are 



