THE FATE OF SIR JO'HN FRANKLIN. V 



affording abundant warm clothing and bedding. My spring journey 

 was a failure, in consequence of an accumulation of obstacles, several 

 of which, my former experience in Arctic travelling had not taught me 

 to expect. — I have, &c., 



" John Rae, M.D., 

 " Commanding Hudson's Bay Company's Arctic Expedition." 



The following are extracts from Dr. Rae's journal : 



" On the morning of the 20th, we were met by a very intelligent 

 Esquimaux, driving a dog-sledge laden with musk-ox beef. This man 

 at once consented to accompany us two days' journey, and in a few 

 minutes had deposited his load on the snow, and was ready to join us. 

 Having explained to him my object, he said that the road by which he 

 had come was the best for us, and, having lightened the men's sledges, 

 we travelled with more facility. We were now joined bv another of the 

 natives, who had been absent seal-hunting yesterday, but, beino- anxious 

 to see us, had visited our snow house early this morning, and then fol- 

 lowed up our track. This man was very communicative, and on putting 

 to him the usual questions as to his having seen * white man ' before, 

 or any ships or boats, he replied in the negative ; but said that a party 

 of * Kablounans ' had died of starvation a long distance to the west of 

 where we then were, and beyond a large river. He stated that he did 

 not know the exact place, that he never had been there, and that he 

 could not accompany us so far." 



The further entries of Dr. Rae's journal are almost verbatim the same 

 as the preceding report to the Admiralty ; he, however, adds, which 

 is some consolation under the melancholy circumstances : 



" From what I could learn, there is no reason to suspect that any 

 violence had been offered to the sufferers by the natives. 



" List of articles purchased from the Esquimaux, said to have been 

 obtained at the place where the bodies of the persons reported to have 

 died of famine were found, viz. :— " 1 silver table fork — crest, an ani- 

 mal's head, with wings extended above; 3 silver table forks— crest, a 

 bird with wings extended; 1 silver table spoon — crest, with initials 

 * F.R.M.C (Captain Crozer, Terror) ; 1 silver table spoon and 1 fork 

 — crest, bird with laurel branch in mouth, motto, '' Spero meliora ;" 

 1 silver table spoon, 1 tea spoon, and 1 dessert fork — crest, a fish's 

 head looking upwards, with laurel branches on each side ; 1 silver table 

 fork— initials, ' H. D. S. G.' (Harry D. S. Goodsir, assistant-surgeon, 

 Erebus) ; 1 silver table fork — initials, 'A. M'D.' (xllexander M'Donald, 

 assistant-surgeon. Terror); 1 silver table fork — initials, ' G. A. M.' 



(Gillies A. Macbean, second-master. Terror)^ ] silver table fork 



initials, * J. T,' ; 1 silver dessert spoon — initilds, * J. S. P.' (John S. 



