CAPTAIN M'CLLTvE's de.spatches. 37 



On the lOtli, Mr. Sainsbuiy (m.ite), with a travelling party, went lo ex- 

 amine an inlet, which appeared to run some distance to the S. W. from the 

 south side of the bay ; but upon the following day returned, finding it 

 extended only 12 miles, the water shoaling, until it finally terminated in a 

 large marsh, which, from the numerous traces of animals and wild fowl, may 

 be considered as a favourite resort during the summer. As there appeared 

 much game in the vicinity, and the weather continued mild, shooting 

 parties under Lieutenant Cresswell, Messrs. Wynniatt, Court and Piers, 

 and the Marines, under Sergeant Woon, were established in different 

 directions between the 9th and 23rd ; so that, 'with what was killed from 

 the ship, our supply of fresh provisions at the commencement of the 

 winter consisted of nine deer, .53 hares, and 44 ptarmigan, all in fine 

 condition, the former having from two to three inches of fat. 



The weather during tlie winter has been much more boisterous, but 

 in each month several degrees more mild than was experienced in the 

 Prince of Wales' Strait, nearly a degree and a half further south, last 

 year, which, in conjunction with the animals remaining in numbers in 

 this locality the entire winter, must, I suppose, be taken as a proof of 

 its mildness, although lying exposed to the north-west winds, direct 

 from the Polar Sea, which, upon our first being frozen in, led to the 

 anticipation of having to encounter a very severe season. In conse- 

 quence of our favoured position the crew vrere enabled to ramble over 

 the hills almost daily in quest of game, and their exertions liappily 

 supplied a fresh meal of venison three times a fortnight, with the ex- 

 ception of about three weeks in January, when it was too dark for 

 shooting. The small game, such as ptarmigan and hares, being scarce, 

 were allowed to be retained by the sportsmen as private property. 

 This healthy and exhilarating exercise kept us all well and in excellent 

 spirits during another tedious winter, so that on the 1st of April we 

 had upwards of l,OUOlbs. of venison hanging at the yard-arms. All 

 wearing so fair an aspect, and being desirous of visiting Winter Har- 

 bour, Melville Island, with the hope of meeting an officer there with 

 v.hom arrangements might be made in the event of any accident occur- 

 ring which would render it necessary to quit the ship, I proceeded on 

 tlie 11th with jMr. Court (second master) and a sledge party for that 

 port ; but in consequence of thick weather coming on a few hours after 

 leavino; the vessel, and continuins: umntermittin2:lv for several davs, we 

 did not reach until the 28tli. Upon the IGth we observed a very lofty 

 cape, bearing N.E. by E. 30 miles, which I have called Queen Victoria, 

 in honour of her Most Gracious Majesty (the same which had been 

 remarked last autumn from the high land near the ship). The laud of 

 the north-east forms the bottom of Lyddon Gulf, while that upon its 

 western side stretched to the N.W., in one unbroken mountain line as 

 far as the eye could reach. At Winter Harbour we obtained a set of 

 sights for the purpose of testing our chronometers, which were ascer- 

 tained to be going exceedingly well ; and, having deposited a notice of 

 our visit under the same cairn where Lieutenant M'Clintock left one 

 last year, upon a large fragment of sandstone, bearing this inscription, 

 viz: "His Britannic Majesty's ships Ilecla and Griper, Commanders 

 Parry and Lyddon, wintered in the adjacent harbour during the winter 

 of 1819-20.— A. Fisher, sculpsit," at 6 p.m. commenced our return, 



