Aug. 1858. PROCEED DOWN PEEL STEAIT. 177 



found ; to tlie most recent a few lines were 

 added, stating that we had removed the two 

 whale-boats — one to be left at Port Leopold, the 

 other to replace our own crushed by the ice. 



VJth. — Last night battling against a strong 

 foul wind with sea, in rain and fog. To-day 

 much loose ice is seen southward of GriflSth's 

 Island. The weather improved this afternoon, 

 and we shot gallantly past Limestone Island, 

 and are now steering down Peel Strait : all of 

 us in a wild state of excitement — a mingling of 

 anxious hopes and fears ! 



I'^th. — For 25 miles last evening we ran un- 

 obstructedly down Peel Strait, but then came in 

 sight of unbroken ice extending across it from 

 shore to shore ! It was much decayed, and of 

 one year's growth only ; yet as the strait con- 

 tinues to contract for 60 miles further, and it 

 appeared to me to afford so little hope of be- 

 coming navigable in the short remainder of 

 the season, I immediately turned about for 

 Bellot Strait, as affording a better prospect of a 

 passage into the western sea discovered by Sir 

 James Ross from Four River Point in 1849. 

 Our disappointment at the interruption of our 

 progress was as sudden as it was severe. We 

 did not linger in hope of a change, but steered 



