Aug. 1858. PROGRESS DOWN PEEL SOUND. 151 



now steering down Peel Sound : all of us in a state of wild 

 excitement — a mingling of anxious hopes and fears ! 



18///. — For 25 miles last evening we ran unobstructedly 

 down Peel Sound, but then came in sight of unbroken ice 

 extending across it from shore to shore ! It was much 

 decayed, and of one year's growth only ; yet, as the strait 

 continues to contract for 60 miles further, and it appeared 

 to me to afford so little hope of becoming navigable in the 

 short remainder of the season, I immediately turned about 

 for Bellot Strait, as affording better prospect of a passage 

 into the western sea discovered by Sir James Ross from 

 Four River Point in 1849. Our disappointment at the 

 interruption of our progress was as severe as it was sudden. 

 We did not linger in hope of a change, but steered out again 

 into the broad waters of Barrow Strait. However, should 

 Bellot Strait prove hopeless, I intend to return hither to 

 make one more effort before the close of the season. 



We are now approaching 'Port Leopold, where it is 

 necessary to stop for a few hours to examine the state 

 of the steam launch, provisions, and stores, left there in 

 1849, for adverse circumstances may oblige me to fall back 

 upon it as a point of support. 



19///. — At anchor in Port Leopold; it is perfectly clear of 

 ice ; we arrived here in the night. How astonishingly bare 

 the land looks ; it is more barren than Beechey Island, whilst 

 the rock contains far fewer fossils ! On this day nine years 

 ago the harbour and sea continued covered with ice, and 

 the ships ('Enterprise' and 'Investigator') were unable to 

 escape. At some period since then, the ice has been pressed 

 in upon the low shingle point ; it has forced the launch up 

 before it, and left her broadside on to the beach, with both 

 bows stove in, and in want of considerable repairs, but the 

 means are all at hand for executing them. We tried to haul 

 her further up, but she was firmly imbedded in the frozen 



