254 CONJECTURES. Chap. XV. 



were attached to this boat, it seems most strange that the 

 remains of only two individuals were found, nor were there 

 any graves upon the neigbouring flat land ; indeed, bearing 

 in mind the season at which these poor fellows left their 

 ships, it should be remembered that the soil was then 

 frozen hard as rock, and the labour of quarrying a grave 

 very great indeed. 



I was astonished to find that the sledge was directed to 

 the N.E., exactly for the next point of land for which we 

 ourselves were travelling ! 



The position of this abandoned boat is about 50 miles — 

 as a sledge would travel — from Point Victory, and therefore 

 65 miles from the position of the ships ; also it is 70 miles 

 from the skeleton of the steward, and 150 miles from 

 Montreal Island : it is moreover in the depth of a wide 

 bay, where, by crossing over 10 or 12 miles of very low 

 land, a great saving of distance would be effected, the route 

 by the coast-line being about 40 miles. 



A little reflection led me to satisfy my own mind at least 

 that this boat was returning to the ships. In no other way 

 can I account for two men having been left in her, than by 

 supposing the party were unable to drag the boat further, 

 and that these two men, not being able to keep pace with 

 their shipmates, were therefore left by them supplied with 

 such provisions as could be spared, to last them until the 

 return of the others from the ship with a fresh stock. 



Whether it was the intention of this boat party to await 

 the result of another season in the ships, or to follow the 

 track of the main body to the Great Fish River, is now a 

 matter of conjecture. It seems more than probable that 

 they fully intended to revisit the boat, not only on account 

 of the two men left in charge of it, but also to obtain the 

 chocolate, the five watches, and many other small articles 

 which would otherwise scarcely have been left in her. 



