May, 1859. DESERTED BOAT. 249 



then removed from about her, but nothing whatever was 

 found. 



This boat measured 28 feet long, and 7 feet 3 inches 

 wide ; she was built with a view to lightness and light 

 draught of water, and evidently equipped with the utmost 

 care for the ascent of the Great Fish River ; she had neither 

 oars nor rudder, paddles supplying their place; and as a 

 large remnant of light canvas, commonly known as No. 8, 

 was found, and also a small block for reeving a sheet through, 

 I suppose she had been provided with a sail. A sloping 

 canvas roof or rain-awning had also formed part of her 

 equipment. She was fitted with a weather-cloth 9 inches 

 high, battened down all round the gunwale, and supported 

 by 24 iron stanchions, so placed as to serve likewise for 

 rowing thowells. There was a deep-sea sounding line, fifty 

 fathoms long, near her, as well as an ice-grapnel ; this line 

 must have been intended for river work as a track line. 

 She had been originally " carvel" built; but for the purpose 

 of reducing weight, very thin fir planks had been substituted 

 for her seven upper strakes, and put on "clincher" fashion. 



The only markings about the boat were those cut in upon 

 her stem ; besides giving her length, they indicated that she 



