Aug. 1858. SIR JOHN ROSS'S CAIRN. 161 



thence on the 26th. A fine breeze carried us rapidly south- 

 ward along the coast of Regent Inlet. There was but little 

 obstruction, though occasionally it was necessary to pass 

 through a stream of loose ice. We saw little of any kind, 

 compared to the experiences of Sir John Ross. 



About dusk (nine o'clock) much loose ice to the south- 

 ward prevented our making any attempt at further progress ; 

 we therefore anchored off the coast — in Stillwell Bay I 

 think — about 45 miles from Depot Bay. Here the depot, 

 consisting of 120 rations, was landed. I observe that it has 

 only been on penetrating into Brentford Bay that we have 

 found the primary rocks washed by the sea ; the coast-line 

 both north and south, as far as, and beyond, our present 

 position, is a low shore of pale limestone, destitute of 

 fossils ; we can however see granitic hill-ranges far in the 

 interior. 



On the 27th we commenced beating back to the north- 

 ward, tacking between the land and the ice which lay about 

 15 miles off shore. Towards night the wind greatly in- 

 creased, and the ship, under reefed sails, plunged violently 

 into the short, swift, high seas ; we also felt quite as uneasy 

 and restless as the ship, in our great anxiety to get back and 

 ascertain what changes were likely to be effected by the 

 gale. 



28///. — To-night the weather is more pleasant; the keen 

 and contrary wind has given place to a gentle fair breeze, 

 the swell has almost subsided, no ice has been seen to-day, 

 and the night is therefore unusually dark and mild — tem- 

 perature. 31 . I can hardly fancy that the sea which gently 

 rocks us is not the ocean, and the soft air the breath, of our 

 own temperate region. The delusion is charming ! 



30///. — Yesterday, after anchoring in Depot Bay, I walked 

 over to Possession Point, to visit Ross's cairn. I found 

 a few stones piled up on two large boulders, and under each 



M 



