May, 1859. TOTAL ABSENCE OF RELICS. 269 



cache was near the S.E. point of the island. The 

 interior of the island and the principal islets 

 adjacent were also examined without success, 

 nor was there the slightest evidence of natives 

 having been here during the winter : it is not to 

 be wondered at that we returned in the evening 

 to our tent somewhat dispirited. The total 

 absence of natives was a bitter disappointment ; 

 circles of stones, indicating the sites of their 

 tenting places in summer, were common enough. 



Montreal Island is of primary rock, chiefly 

 grey gneiss, traversed with whitish vertical 

 bands in a N. and S. direction (by them I often 

 directed my route when crossing the island). 

 It is of considerable elevation, and extremely 

 rugged. The low beaches and grassy hollows 

 were covered with a foot or two of hard snow, 

 whilst all the level, the elevated, or exposed 

 parts were swept perfectly bare ; had a cairn, or 

 even a grave, existed (raised as it must be, the 

 earth being frozen hard as rock), we must at 

 once have seen it. If any were constructed they 

 must have been levelled by the natives; every 

 doubtful appearance was examined with the 

 pickaxe. 



A remark made by my men struck me as 

 being shrewd ; they judged from the washed 

 appearance of the rock upon the east side of 



