180 DEPOT BAY. Chap. X. 



at hand. Does Bellot Strait really exist ? if so, 

 is it free from ice ? 



A depot of provisions is being got ready- 

 to be landed, sliould it be practicable for us to 

 push through and proceed to the southward. 



21st. — On approaching Brentford Bay last 

 evening, packed ice was seen streaming out of it, 

 also much ice in the S.E. The northern point 

 of entrance was landed upon by Sir John Ross 

 in 1829, and named Possession Point ; we 

 rounded it closely, and could distinguish a few 

 stones piled up upon a large rock near its 

 highest part — this is his cairn. As we passed 

 westward between the point and Browne's 

 Island, through a channel a mile in width, a 

 close pack was discovered a few miles ahead ; 

 and it being past ten o'clock, and almost dark, 

 the ship was anchored in a convenient bay 

 three or four miles within Possession Point. 

 Here our depot is to be landed, therefore we 

 shall name this for the present Depot Bay ; a 

 very narrow isthmus between its head and 

 Hazard Inlet unites the low limestone penin- 

 sula, of which Possession Point is the extreme, 

 to the mainland. 



To-day an unsparing use of steam and canvas 

 forced the ship eight miles further west ; we 



