170 PORT KENNEDY. Chap. XL 



things he finds much iron pyrites. The dredge has been 

 used, but with very little success. The thermometer ranges 

 between 20 and 30° Fresh water pools are frozen over, 

 sea ice forms in every sheltered angle of the creeks. There is 

 no snow upon the land, and this makes it more difficult to find 

 game, as we can neither track nor distinguish them so easily. 



I have determined upon naming this beautiful little 

 anchorage Port Kennedy, after my predecessor, the dis- 

 coverer of Bellot Strait, of which it is decidedly the port. 

 This is an agreeable duty, and nowhere could Mr. Kennedy's 

 name be more appropriately affixed than in close proximity 

 with his interesting discovery. And now having acknow- 

 ledged his prior discovery, I venture to confer our little 

 vessel's name upon the islets which protect its entrance. 



The island upon which Mr. Kennedy and Lieutenant 

 Bellot encamped was Long Island, about three miles farther 

 to the south-east. 



ijt/i. — Of late we have been preparing provisions and 

 equipments for our travelling parties. My scheme of sledge 

 search comprehends three separate routes, each of the three 

 parties being composed of four men, a dog sledge and 

 driver; Hobson, Young, and I will lead them. 



My journey will be to the Great Fish River, examining 

 the shores of King William's Land in going and returning ; 

 Petersen will be with me. 



Hobson will explore the western coast of Boothia as far as 

 the magnetic pole, this autumn I hope, and from Gateshead 

 Island westward next spring. 



Young will trace the shore of Prince of Wales' Land 

 from Lieutenant Browne's farthest, to the southwestward to 

 Osborn's farthest, if possible, and also examine between 

 Four River Point and Cape Bird. 



Our probable absence will be sixty or seventy days, com- 

 mencing from about the 20th March. 



