•420 POSTSCRIPT. 



accounts of the progress of the Expedition to England, 

 I should have thought that he would certainly have left 

 a record of his doings at a winter station, which he knew to 

 be within reach of the whalers, before he commenced his 

 voyage of the second season, in the hope of penetrating 

 either to the south-west or northward, where he knew there 

 would be little or no chance of finding a channel of com- 

 munication, unless he succeeded in overcoming all obstacles, 

 and pushing his way through that archipelago, which has 

 hitherto proved a barrier to successive expeditions. And 

 should he, as some suppose, but contrary as I think to all 

 likelihood, have cut his way out of Beechey Harbour 

 merely to turn his face to England, still I think he would 

 have left some authentic record on the spot, mentioning 

 his labours, and the cause of his return. 



As there are no natives on the north side of Lancaster 

 Strait to disturb any memorial or flag-post that may be 

 erected, Sir John Franklin would probably not think it 

 necessary to bury the copper cylinder or bottle containing 

 his memorandum, but would rather suspend it in the most 

 conspicuous way he could devise. Now, I have learnt, by 

 experience, that the wolverene * will ascend trees to cut 

 down a package hung to a branch; and that bears have 

 similar habits was fully ascertained by Captain Austin's 

 sledge parties. A depot formed by Lieutenant M'Clintock 

 on Griffith Island was entirely eaten by bears, the tin 

 cases proving to be but a poor defence against the tusks 

 of these omnivorous animals, who expressed their approval 

 of preserved potatoes by the way in which they cleared 

 out the canisters. That they would relish the pemican 

 which was part of their spoil, might have been predicted. 

 They did not respect even the sign-post, but overthrew it, 



* The wolverene inhabits the islands north of Lancaster Strait, and 

 its recent footmarks were often seen by Lieutenant M'Clintock. 



