248 CAPE CROZIER. Chap. XV. 



Our provisions were running very short, therefore the 

 three remaining puppies were of necessity shot, and their 

 sledge used for fuel. We were also enabled to lengthen our 

 journeys, as we had very smooth ice to travel over, the ofT- 

 lying islets keeping the rough pack from pressing in upon 

 the shore. 



Upon the 29th of May we reached the western extreme 

 of King William's Island, in lat. 6g° 08' N., and long ioo° 

 08' W. I named it after Captain Crozier of the ' Terror,' 

 the gallant leader of that " Forlorn Hope " of which we had 

 just now obtained tidings. The coast we marched along 

 was extremely low — a mere series of ridges of limestone 

 shingle, almost destitute of fossils. The only tracks of 

 animals seen were those of a bear and a few foxes — the only 

 living creatures a few willow-grouse. Traces even of the 

 wandering Esquimaux became much less frequent after leav- 

 ing Cape Herschel. Here were found only a few circles of 

 stones, the sites of tenting-places, but so moss-grown as to 

 be of great age. The prospect to sea was not less forbidding 

 — a rugged surface of crushed-up pack, including much heavy 

 ice. In these shallow and perpetually ice-packed channels, 

 seals are but seldom found ; and it is highly probable that 

 all animal life in them is as scarce as upon the land. 



From Cape Crozier the coast-line was found to turn 

 sharply away to the eastward ; and early in the morning of 

 the 30th May we encamped alongside a large boat — another 

 painful relic which Hobson had found and examined a few 

 days before, as his note left here informed me ; but he had 

 failed to discover record, journal, pocket-book, or memoran- 

 dum of any description. 



A vast quantity of tattered clothing was lying in her, and 

 this we first examined. Not a single article bore the name 

 of its former owner. The boat was cleared out and care- 

 fully swept that nothing might escape us. The snow was 



