8 CAPTAIN M'CLURe's DESPATCHES. 



it up ; the wind freshened, and nnable to see for fog. At 2 p.m. it 

 cleared ; we slipped from the ice and plied to the north-east amid 

 heavy steams and lara;e floe pieces, vessel striking violently, but un- 

 avoidably a2;ainst them. 



August Ibi. — To-day, from the mast-head, observed tlie first lane of 

 open water in the pack, exteiuling east and west several miles, bnt verv 

 narrow. In the evening a fresh breeze iVom the south-west, and almost 

 simultaneously a slight pitching motion was observed, which is con- 

 sidered an infallible symptom of open water being near. It was so 

 foggy that nothing could be seen ; but, notwitlistanding, I shaped a 

 course north-north-west for Banks's Land, thinking that we had 

 rounded the pack, having coasted it between 400 and 500 miles ; we 

 continued the greatest part of the night to run without much obstruc- 

 tion, but upon the following morning, the 19th, our progress was 

 checked by finding that we had run into a deep bight, Avhich compelled 

 us to work back as-ain to the south-east. 



August 20. — Before getting clear of this pack, into which we had 

 penetrated a considerable distance, being decoyed by a few lanes of 

 open water, we were compelled to run 70 miles south, which placed us 

 in lat. G9°50'N. long. 13G^ 50' W. It is seldom that observations 

 can be obtained, this being only the sixth set since the 5th of the 

 month, the fog and mist being more continuous than I ever remember 

 to have met elsewhere. 



August 21. — We have succeeded in getting again into clear water. 

 At 1 p.m. made the Felly Islands, off the mouth of the Mackenzie; 

 the coast is, however, so excessively shoal, that I find it impossible to 

 reach the main land, which I Avas very anxious to accomplish, but, at 

 the distance of forty miles from it, was obliged to tack in 3 fathoms ; 

 we passed the line of its tide most distinctly marked about ten miles 

 further north, the water being the colour of the 'J'hames at Woolwich, 

 slightl)'^ brackish, and its temperature 39 degrees, the sea, four hours 

 previously, being 2S degrees. From what I have observed of the pack, 

 I feel convinced that any attempt to reach ]5anks's I^and through it 

 would only terminate in failure, and the consequent loss of valuable 

 time, but by working between its edge and the shore, have confidence 

 in making a good advance this season ; it is, therefore, my intention to 

 pursue the latter method, and, in so doing, deviate from my oiiginal 

 ])urpose of pushing into the ice, as mentioned in my letter to their 

 Lordships, dated the l!)th of July. 



Au2;ust 22. — F02: during the whole of the nio'ht very dense, bnt, 

 having much open water upon the eastern shore from the IVlackenzie 

 towards ('ape Bathurst, had no difficulty in working along it ; iu 

 soundino:s from four to eiiiht fathoms, — which latter was the extent that 

 the ice permitted us off shore. At noon a slight clear discovered to us 

 cluster of islands, wliich a very indifferent observation (lat. G9" 34' 

 N., long. 135° !)' W.) points out as those of I'elly. 



August 23. — A fiue clear day, the temperature rising to 40 degrees 

 at noon. Made the norlhcni extreme of IJiehnnl Island from the mast- 

 head, and hv a good observatiou estai)lish('d our ])osition lat. <l!)' 5 I'tV,, 

 long. 133" IS' W.,the water towards the shore being perfectly clear of 

 ice, whicli .agrees with the account given by Sir John Hiehardsou that 

 the natives observe no ice for two moons ; but these never (piit the land 

 finy distance, for were they to exteiul their excursions 10 miles further 



