424 POSTSCRIPT. 



lower part of Wellington Strait, and remained fast, though 

 diminished in breadth, when last visited on the 24th of 

 July, 1851. Captain Penny is of opinion that open water 

 existed beyond it all the winter. 



With respect to traces of Sir John Franklin's Expedition, 

 beyond Cape Spencer none whatever were observed by 

 Captain Penny's travelling parties, except a small piece of 

 drift wood, which had been recently charred, and had been 

 exposed to little or no friction subsequent to the operation 

 of fire.* This was found by Mr. Goodsir in Disappoint- 

 ment Bay, in latitude 75° 36' N., longitude 96° W. ; and 

 I consider it to be certainly a relic of Sir John Franklin's 

 Expedition, as these coasts are not now visited by natives, 

 and this piece of charred wood could not have been water- 

 borne from any great distance. It must have travelled, 

 however, some short way subsequent to its having been 

 exposed to the action of fire ; for if it had been the remains 

 of a fire kindled on the spot, other fragments of charcoal 

 would have been found lying beside it. Franklin would, 

 undoubtedly, during the spring passed in Beechey Bay, 

 send out a party up Wellington Sound, as he would never 

 let the opportunity escape of examining, as far as he was 

 able to do, a route that might influence his future move- 

 ments ; and as the course to the westward within the reach 

 of pedestrian parties was known, the resources of the two 

 ships would be turned to the undiscovered way, commen- 

 cing in their vicinity. That such exploring party went 

 beyond the limits of Captain Penny's researches, I infer 



* A piece of elm board that had been originally coated on one side 

 with mineral pitch or tar, and after long exposure to the weather 

 split by an axe, was too much weathered even on the most recent 

 surface to come within the date of Sir John Franklin's Expedition. 

 It was found on Baillie Hamilton's Island, and must have drifted a 

 very long way. 



