PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 413 



The beach was strewed with a great quantity of 

 drift wood, some of which was in a very perfect 

 state, and appeared to have been recently split with f^g* 

 wedges by the natives, who had carried away large 

 portions of the trunks to make their bows, arrows, 

 and fishing implements. They were all pine-trees 

 except one, which by the bark appeared to be a 

 silver birch. 



On the 10th we had the satisfaction to see the 

 barge coming down to us under a press of canvass, 

 and the most lively expectations were formed until 

 she approached near enough to discover that the ap- 

 pointed signal of success was wanting at her mast- 

 head. Though unfortunate in accomplishing what 

 we most anxiously desired, her voyage was attended 

 with advantage. We had the satisfaction to learn 

 from her commander when he came on board that 

 he had discovered a large extent of coast beyond 

 the extreme cape which we had seen from the mast- 

 head of the ship on the 15th ultimo, and which I 

 had named after Captain Franklin ; and had pro- 

 ceeded to the latitude of 71° 23' 31" N. and to 

 156° 21' 30" W., where the coast formed a low nar- 

 row neck beyond which it was impossible to pro- 

 ceed to the eastward, in consequence of the ice 

 being attached to the land, and extending along the 

 horizon to the northward. 



The boat had not been at this point many hours, 

 before the wind changed to south-west, and set the 

 whole body of ice in motion toward the land. This 

 was a case in which Mr. Elson had received strict 

 orders to return immediately, and he accordingly 

 began to retrace his route ; but in so doing he found 

 that, in addition to the disadvantage of a contrary 



