May, 1859. EXPLORE MONTREAL ISLAND. 231 



to abound in all directions ; eventually it proved to be a 

 separate island upon which we had encamped. The only 

 traces or relics of Europeans found were the following 

 articles, discovered by Petersen, beside a native mark (one 

 large stone set upright on the top of another), at the east 

 side of the main — or Montreal — island : — A piece of a pre- 

 served meat tin, two pieces of iron hoop, some scraps of 

 copper, and an iron hook-bolt. These probably are part 

 of the plunder obtained from the boat, and were left here 

 until a more favourable opportunity should offer, or perhaps 

 necessity should compel the depositor to return for them. 



All the 1 6th we were unable to move, not only because 

 Hampton was still very ill, but the weather was extremely 

 bad, and snow thickly falling with temperature at zero ; 

 certainly strange weather for the middle of May ! We have 

 not had a single clear day since the 1st of the month. 



On the 17 th the weather, though dull, was clear, so Mr. 

 Petersen, Thompson, and I set off with the dog-sledge to 

 complete the examination of Montreal Island, leaving the 

 other three men with the tent : we also still hoped to find 

 natives, although we had not seen any recent traces of them 

 since passing Point Booth. Petersen drove the dog-sledge 

 close along shore round the island to the south, and as far 

 up the east side as to meet our previously explored portion 

 of it, whilst Thompson and I walked along on the land, the 

 one close down to the beach, and the other higher up, 

 examining the more conspicuous parts : in this order we 

 traversed the remaining portion of the island. 



Although the snow served to conceal from us any traces 

 which might exist in hollows or sheltered situations, yet it 

 rendered all objects intended to serve as marks much more 

 conspicuous ; and we may remember that the retreating 

 crews saw Montreal Island in its winter garb, precisely as 

 we ourselves saw it. The island was almost covered with 



