Aug. 1858. BRENTFORD BAY. 153 



We feel that the crisis of our voyage is near at hand. 

 Does Bellot Strait really exist ? Poor Bellot himself doubted 

 it, and Kennedy, his commander, could not positively assert 

 that it did. And if there be a strait, is it free from ice? 



A depot of provisions is being got ready to be landed, 

 should it be practicable for us to push through and proceed 

 to the southward. 



2\st. — On approaching Brentford Bay last evening, packed 

 ice was see?i streaming out of it, 1 also much ice in the S.E. 

 The northern point of entrance was landed upon by Sir John 

 Ross in 1829, and named Possession Point; we rounded it 

 closely, and could distinguish a few stones piled up upon a 

 large rock near its highest part — this is his cairn. As we 

 passed westward between the point and Browne's Island, 

 through a channel a mile in width, a close pack was dis- 

 covered a few miles ahead ; and it being past ten o'clock, 

 and almost dark, the ship was anchored in a convenient bay 

 three or four miles within Possession Point. Here our depot 

 is to be landed, therefore we shall name this for the present 

 Depot Bay; a very narrow isthmus between its head and 

 Hazard Inlet unites the low limestone peninsula, of which 

 Possession Point is the extreme, to the mainland. 



To-day an unsparing use of steam and canvas forced the 

 ship eight miles further west ; we were then about halfway 

 through Bellot Strait ! Its western capes are lofty bluffs, 

 such as may be distinguished fifty miles distant in clear 

 weather; between them there was a clear broad channel, 

 but five or six miles of close heavy pack intervened — the 

 sole obstacle to our progress. Of course this pack will 



1 When sailing past here in 1829, Sir James C. Ross observed heavy 

 packed ice, differing from such as would be formed in the sheltered 

 depth of a bay, streaming out of it ; he therefore inferred the existence 

 of a channel. Relying mainly on his judgment, I came with confidence 

 to seek one : and this sight was an intense relief, for it convinced me 

 that the strait did exist. 



