40 CAPTAIN M'CLURE's DESPATCHES. 



stores, vid Baffin's Bay (taking the boat from Cape Spencer) and the 

 Mackenzie, detaining the remainder with the hope of extricating 

 the vessel during the summer of 1853, or, failing that, to proceed 

 with sledges in 185-1, by Port Leopold,*' our provisions admitting of 

 no other arrangement. Although we had already been twelve months 

 upon two-thirds allowance, it was necessary to make preparations for 

 meeting eighteen months more — a very severe deprivation and con- 

 stitutional test — but one which the services we were employed upon 

 called for, the vessel being as sound as the day she entered the ice. It 

 would therefore be discreditable to desert her in 1853, when a favour- 

 able season would run her through the Straits, and admit of reaching 

 England in safety, where the successful achievement of the long-sought 

 for and almost hopeless discovery of the north-west passage would be 

 received with a satisfaction that would amply compensate for the sacri- 

 fices made, and hardships endured, in its most trying and tedious 

 accomplishment. This statement was well received, and its execution 

 w'ill, I hope, be carried out without difficulty. 



On the 17th the wind shifted to the S.S.E., and blew hard, which a 

 few days earlier might have been attended with favourable results, but 

 now it had no effect ; the ice, being eight inches thick, was too firm to 

 be moved ; the sails w'cre consequently unbent, and preparations com- 

 menced for housing in. 



September 24th. — This is the anniversary of our arrival. The contrast 

 is very remarkable. We entered the bay with the temperature at 33°, 

 and not a particle of ice in it; to-day the thermometer stands at 2°, 

 with ice which has never moved, and every indication of a very severe 

 winter. '^ 



Upon the 25th of October closed the hatchways and housed the 

 vessel, over ; it becoming damp and cold between decks, the vapour- 

 funnels, of which there are five, giving a sufficient ventilation, those 

 over the hatchways being never closed, carry ofp all impurities, so that 

 we enjoy a clear, wholesome, atmosphere below. This has very much 

 contributed to the excellent preservation of our healths, and the 26th 

 being the second anniversary of our discovery of the passage, and the 

 last that we should all be together, the occasion was celebrated by a 

 small additional allowance of provisions, and an extra glass of grog, 

 which had the effect of putting all in high spirits, so that the evening 

 was passed most jovially in singing and dancing. 



On November'8th, completed the banking up and other outside work ; 

 finally terminating our winter arrangements uj)on the 18th, by covering 

 the upper deck with 18 inches of snow. The deer for the last few 

 days have been coming from the southward to their wmtcr-quarters 

 among these ravines and sand-hills ; 90 have been met with at one 

 time, and 40 at another, but so very wild that few have been shot. 

 Our two seasons' experience show that these animals do not migrate to 

 the south, as is generally supposed, but bear the extreme rigour of the 

 climate, and exist upon the scanty herbage, chiefly the dwnrf willow, 

 from off which they break the snow with their feet, which tapping can 

 be heard at a considerable distance when the weather is calm, and 

 frequently leads to their discovery. The hares and ptarmigan have 

 also descended from the high ground to the sea-ridges, so that a supply 

 of game lias been kept uj) during the winter, which has enabled 



