May, 1859. VAGUENESS OF INFORMATION. 237 



Were it not for their shroud of snow, it is more than probable 

 that our anxious search would have brought to light many 

 another skeleton, and have still further confirmed the old 

 woman's brief story — unsurpassed in graphic simplicity. 



I do not think the Esquimaux had discovered this skeleton, 

 or they would have carried off the brush and comb : super- 

 stition . prevents them from disturbing their own dead, but 

 would not keep them from appropriating the property of the 

 white man if in any way useful to them. Dr. Rae obtained 

 a piece of flannel, marked, "F. D. V., 1845," from the 

 Esquimaux of 'Boothia or Repulse Bay: it had doubtless 

 been a part of poor Des Vceux's garments. 



At the time of our interview with the natives of King 

 William's Island, Petersen was inclined to think that the 

 retreat of the crews took place in the fall of the year, some 

 of the men in boats, and others walking along the shore ; 

 and as only five bodies are said to have been found upon 

 Montreal Island with the boat, this fact favoured his opinion, 

 because so small a number could not have dragged her there 

 over the ice, although they could very easily have taken her 

 there by water. Subsequently this opinion proved to be 

 erroneous. I mention it because it shows how vague our 

 information was — indeed all Esquimaux accounts involving 

 dates and numbers are necessarily so — and how entirely we 

 were dependent upon our own exertions for bringing to light 

 the mystery of their fate. 



The information obtained by Dr. Rae was mainly derived 

 second-hand from the Fish River Esquimaux, and should not 

 be confounded with that received by us from the King 

 William's Island Esquimaux. These people told us they did 

 not find the bodies of the white men (that is, they did not 

 know any had died upon the march) until the following 

 winter. This is probably true, as it is only in winter and 

 early spring they can travel overland to the west shore, or 



