282 INTEEEST ATTACHING TO THE CAIRN. Chap. XV. 



plunder the cache ; but, having commenced to 

 do so, would not have left any of it standing, 

 unless they found what they sought. 



I noticed with great care the appearance of 

 the stones, and came to the conclusion that the 

 cairn itself was of old date, and had been erected 

 many years ago, and that it was reduced to 

 the state in which we found it by people having 

 broken down one side of it, the displaced stones, 

 from being turned over, looking far more fresh 

 than those in that portion of the cairn which 

 had been left standing. It was with a feeling 

 of deep regret and much disappointment that 

 I left this spot without finding some certain 

 record of those martyrs to their country's fame. 

 Perhaps in all the wide world there will be few 

 spots more hallowed in the recollection of Eng- 

 lish seamen than this cairn on Cape Herschel. 



A few miles beyond Cape Herschel the land 

 becomes very low ; many islets and shingle- 

 ridges lie far off the coast ; and as we advanced 

 we met with hummocks of unusually heavy ice, 

 showing plainly that we were now travelling 

 upon a far more exposed part of the coast-line. 

 We were approaching a spot where a revela- 

 tion of intense interest was awaiting me. 



About 12 miles from Cape Herschel I found 



