420 VOYAGE TO THE 



C vt\ p ' Cape Franklin, the coast, still consisting of a chain 

 v — v* -> of sandy islands lying off the main land, turned to 

 of a the tlve the south-east and united with the main land, form- 

 Barge. - n g a j^y on w hich \ bestowed the name of my 

 first lieutenant, Mr. Peard. Two posts were found 

 erected on Cape Franklin, upon which another no- 

 tice was painted. The surface of the beach was a 

 fine sand, but by digging a few inches down it was 

 mixed with coal ; there was here also, as at their 

 former station, a great quantity of drift-wood. Off 

 these islands they were visited by several baidars, 

 the people in which behaved in a very disorderly 

 manner, attempted several depredations, and even 

 cut a piece out of one of the sails of the boat while 

 it was lying upon the gunwale. Finding the natives 

 inclined to part with one of their baidars, she was 

 purchased for two hatchets, under the impression 

 that she might be useful to the boat hereafter. 

 Having run twenty-nine miles along the coast to 

 the N.E., they again landed and obtained some lunar 

 observations. The coast here assumed a different 

 aspect, and consisted of clay cliffs about fifty feet 

 high, and presented an ice formation resembling that 

 which has been described in Escholtz Bay. The 

 interior of the country was flat, and only partially 

 covered with snow. A short distance to the north- 

 ward of them a river discharged itself into a lake 

 within the shingly beach, which was about twenty 

 yards wide, and the water being perfectly fresh, they 

 obtained a supply, and pursued their course to the 

 north-east. Their latitude was 70° 58' 43" N. ; and 

 no ice had as yet been seen, even from the hills. 

 This excited the greatest hopes in our adventurous 

 shipmates, who advanced quite elated at the pro- 



