446 THE FRANKLIN SEAECff— 184:8-51. 



tending jfrom Point Tangent to Boat Extreme ; we coasted them along in a 

 depth of from one to two fathoms, the ice in several places close down and 

 piled up, looking at a distance like high bold cliffs, and betraying its true 

 nature only as we passed close to it. The southerly wind was evidently 

 driving the loose ice off shore, leaving a clear open space; and at 2.30 p.m. 

 we anchored in five feet water, about two hundred feet off the northern 

 shore of one of the islets, in a heavy squall accompanied with rain, and 

 commenced to load our small boats, and make every preparation for pro- 

 ceeding now only with them. . . . 



" The morning of the 4th set in with dark heavy weather, with occa- 

 sional fog and rain and wind flying about from all quarters of the com- 

 pass, but in the evening it settled at south-west, and as our three boats were 

 ready, I determined on starting. ... In the meantime, I mustered the 

 men into their respective boats, which I named as follows, viz., first whaler, 

 ' Louisa ; ' second whaler, ' Logan ; ' and oomiak, ' Supply ; ' and found 

 they contained at least ninety-four days' provision for fourteen men, besides 

 twenty cases of pemmican, each case containing about thirty pounds ; and 

 that, notwithstanding the large amount we carried along with us, we still 

 left with Mr Martin in the large boats a three weeks' supply. Our little 

 craft certainly swam deep, but we were all determined to put up with every 

 inconvenience and hardship in the hope of succouring our gallant country- 

 men ; and I do not think a man of the party had the remotest idea that 

 we should not get on. Certainly I would not have put such cargoes in such 

 small boats under any other circumstances." 



It being now impossible to proceed farther with the two large decked- 

 boats of the expedition. Lieutenant Pullen placed these in charge of Mr 

 Martin, second master, who received full instructions to take them back to 

 the winter quarters of the " Plover," The Mackenzie River expedition then 

 numbered foiu-teen persons, including officers ; and these were distributed — 

 seven in the " Louisa," six in the " Logan," and one to steer in the oomiak 

 " Supply," which was towed. The onward expedition separated from Mr 

 Martin and the return boats on the 4th August, and steered for the eastward. 

 On the 5th, Dease and Simpson's " Boat Extreme " was passed. Here the 

 shore was found to be low and swampy, and the country behind formed a vast 

 treeless plain, covered with short grass and moss. On the morning of the 

 10th, after having crossed Harrison's Bay, the two whale-boats and the 

 " Supply" oomiak got among quantities of driftwood streaming to the north- 

 ward with the ice. " Since midnight the wind had been increasing, creating 

 a nasty cross sea, which caused our poor little craft to labour heavily, and 

 ship much water ; and as the soundings gradually lessened from three and 

 a half to one fathom, all hands were anxiously looking for the land. At 

 2.30 A.M. the 'Supply' parted her tow rope, but we secured her again; and 



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