158 
franklin's encampment. 
of this celebrated explorer had left nothing to alter. 
To the north of Cape Innes, though the coast retains 
the same geognostical character, the bluff promonto- 
ries subside into low hills, between which the beach, 
composed of coarse silicious limestone, sweeps in long 
curvilinear terraces. Measuring some of these rudely 
afterward, I found that the elevation of the highest 
plateau did not exceed forty feet. 
Our way northward was along an ice channel close 
under the eastern shore, and bounded on the Other side 
by the ice-pack, at a distance varying from a quarter 
of a mile to a mile and three quarters, OIF Cape Spen- 
cer the way seemed more open, widening perhaps to 
two miles, and showing something like continued free 
water to the north and west. Here we met Captain 
Penny, with the Lady Franklin and Sophia. He told 
us that the channel was completely shut in ahead by 
a compact ice barrier, which connected itself with that 
to the west, describing a horseshoe bend. He thought 
a southwester was coming on, and counseled us to pre- 
pare for the chances of an impactment. The go-ahead 
determination which characterized our commander 
made us test the correctness of his advice. We push- 
ed on, tracked the horseshoe circuit of the ice without 
finding an outlet, and were glad to labor back again 
almost in the teeth of a gale. 
Captain Penny had occupied the time more profita- 
bly. In company with Dr. Groodsir, an enthusiastic 
explorer and highly educated gentleman, whose broth- 
er was an assistant surgeon on board the missing ves- 
sels, he had been examining the shore. On the ridge 
of limestone, between Cape Spencer and Point Innes, 
they had come across additional proofs that Sir John's 
party had been here — very important these proofs a.s 
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