254 VOYAGE TO THE 



twenty- eight fathoms, and showed that there was a 

 bank, toh^rably steep at its edge, extending from 

 King's IsU\nd to the main. We now resumed our 

 course for the strait ; hut the fog being very thick we 

 had some difficulty in finding the passage, and were 

 obho-ed to haul off twice before we succeeded in pass- 

 ine; it. In doing this we crossed a narrow channel, 

 with thirty-seven fathoms water, which is deeper 

 soundings than have been hitherto found within a 

 o-reat many miles of the strait. As the depth on each 

 side of the channel is only twenty-four fathoms, it may 

 serve as a guide in future to vessels circumstanced as 

 we were at the mouth of the strait in a thick fog. 

 A little before noon we discerned the Fairway Rock, 

 and passed the straits in confidence before a fresh gale 

 of wind, which had just increased so nnich as to ren- 

 der our situation very unpleasant. 



On the morning of the 5th we passed Cape Espen- 

 burg, and in the evening came to an anchor off Cha- 

 misso Island, nearly in the same situation we had 

 occupied so long the preceding year. On revisiting; 

 this island, curiosity and interest in the fate of our 

 countrymen, of whom we were in search, were our 

 predominant feelings ; and a boat was immediately 

 sent to ascertain whether they had been at the island. 

 On her return we learned that no new marks had 

 been discerned upon the rocks ; no staff was erected, 

 as had been agreed upon in the event of their arrival ; 

 and the billet of wood containing despatches was 

 lying unopened upon the same stone on which it had 

 been placed the preceding year ; either of which facts 

 was a conclusive answer to our inquiry. 



By some chips of wood which had been recently 

 cut, it appeared that the Esquimaux had not long 



