Aug. 1858. REFLECTIONS AT BEECHEY ISLAND. 175 



We are now ready to proceed upon our 

 voyage from Beechey Island, and there is no ice 

 in sight ; but having worked almost unceasingly 

 since our arrival up to the present hour, the 

 men require a night's rest. Nearly forty tons 

 of fuel have been embarked. 



The total absence of ice in Barrow Strait is 

 astonishing. No less so are the changes and 

 chances of this singular navigation. Twelve 

 days later than this in 1850, when I belonged 

 to Her Majesty's ship 'Assistance,' with con- 

 siderable difiSculty we came within sight of 

 Beechey Island : a cairn on its summit attracted 

 notice ; Captain Ommanney managed to land, 

 and discovered the first traces of the missing 

 expedition. Next day the United States schooner 

 * Eescue ' arrived ; the day after. Captain Penny 

 joined us, and subsequently Captain Austin, Sir 

 John Ross, and Captain Forsyth, — in all, ten 

 vessels were assembled here. This day six 

 years, when in command of the ' Intrepid,' we 

 sailed from here for Melville Island in company 

 with the ' Resolute.' Again I was here at this 

 time in 1854, — still frozen up, — in the ' North 

 Star,' and doubts were entertained of the possi- 

 bility of escape. 



To come down to a later period, it was this 

 day fortnight only that I set out for the native 



