8 PRELIMINARY CHAPTER. 



River will be, for many reasons, the most eligible 

 place for the commencement of your operations, 

 yet, as the same combination of wind, tide, and 

 ice, which would render that inlet difficult of 

 access, might equally facilitate your entrance 

 into Repulse Bay ; and as this bay would ap- 

 pear to be not more distant from Regent's Inlet 

 than Wager Bay, you are further left at liberty 

 to run for the former, instead of persisting in a 

 tedious struggle to reach Wager Bay. 



" Into whichsoever of these inlets you may find 

 it expedient to conduct His Majesty's ship, your 

 first object will be to place her in present safety ; 

 and then, having previously arranged a sufficient 

 number of light reconnoitering parties, and having 

 duly provided them with all necessary provisions, 

 tools, and signals, you will detach them in any 

 and every direction that may appear most promptly 

 to lead to the discovery of a suitable track for 

 transporting the boats and stores across the land 

 which intervenes between these inlets and the 



sea. 



" While these parties are employed on this im- 

 portant service, a rapid examination must be 

 made of the character of the shores of one or 

 other of these inlets, and of their several creeks 

 and harbours, along with the set and rise of the 

 tides, in order to the selection of such an anchor- 

 age as may ensure the perfect security of the 



