RELICS OBTAINED. 225 



below the /feezing point. At one time it was impossible to visit the magnetic observatory, 

 although only 21U yards distant, and with a rope stretched along, breast high, upon poles 

 the whole way. After making all proper arrangements, M'Clintock and Young started out 

 on February 17th, in different directions, with sledges and searching parties. The cold was 

 intense : on the 18th the thermometer registered 48 (80 below freezing) ; and even the 

 poor dogs felt the effects, their feet becoming lame and sore in consequence of the hardness 

 of the snow. 



We are now approaching the denoument the climax of the painful story which tells 

 us of the sad fate of two whole ships' companies amid the perils and horror of the frozen 

 seas. We cannot do better than present the narrative for the most part in the graphic words 

 of M'Clintock. " On the 1st of March/' he writes, " we halted to encamp at about the 

 position of the Magnetic Pole, for no cairn remains to mark the spot. I had almost 

 concluded that my journey would prove to be a work of labour in vain, because hitherto .no 

 traces of Esquimaux had been met with, and in consequence of the reduced state of our 

 provisions and the wretched condition of the poor dogs six out of the fifteen being quite 

 useless I could only advance one more march. 



" But we had done nothing more than look ahead ; when we halted and turned round, 

 great indeed was my surprise and joy to see four men walking after us. Petersen and I 

 immediately buckled on our revolvers, and advanced to meet them. The natives halted, 

 made fast their dogs, laid down their spears, and received us without any evidence of 

 surprise. 



" We gave them to understand that we were anxious to barter with them, and very 

 cautiously approached the real object of our visit. A naval button upon one of their 

 dresses afforded the opportunity; it came, they said, from some white people who were 

 starved upon an island where there are salmon (that is, in a river), and that the iron of 

 which their knives were made came from the same place. One of these men said he had 

 been to the island to obtain wood and iron, but none of them had seen the white men. 

 Another man had been to 'Ei-wil-lik' (Repulse Bay), and counted on his fingers seven 

 individuals of Rae's party whom he remembered having seen. 



" Despite the gale which howled outside, we spent a comfortable night in our roomy hut. 



"Next morning the entire village population arrived, amounting to about forty-five 

 souls, from aged people to infants in arms, and bartering commenced very briskly. First 

 of all we purchased all the relics of the lost expedition, consisting of six silver spoons and 

 forks, a silver medal the property of Mr. A. McDonald, assistant surgeon, part of a gold 

 chain, several buttons, and knives made of the iron and wood of the wreck ; also bows and 

 arrows constructed of materials obtained from the same source. Having secured these, we 

 purchased a few frozen salmon, some seal's blubber, and venison, but could not prevail 

 upon them to part with more than one of their fine dogs. One of their sledges was made 

 of two stout pieces of wood, which might have been a boat's keel. 



" All the old people recollected the visit of the Victory. An old man told me his name, 

 was ' Ooblooria.' I recollected that Sir James Ross had employed a man of that name as 

 a guide, and reminded him of it; he was, in fact, the same individual, and he inquired 

 after Sir James bv his Esquimaux name of l Affffluffcra.' 



v * OO c3 O 



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