OFFICIAL REPOHT. 
495 
about eight feet thick, and the sharp, angular hummocks, peculiar to recently- 
formed ice, had been rounded down to gentle hillocks by the action of the 
weather for several seasons. Further progress to the north was out of the 
question. To the west, however, along the edge of the fixed ice, a lead pre- 
sented itself, with a freshening wind from the southeast. We ran into it, but 
at half way across the channel our headway was arrested by the closing ice. 
A few miles beyond this, two of the Enghsh vessels (one a steamer) were dan- 
gerously beset. I deemed it prudent to return to Point Innes, under the lee 
of which the vessels might hold on in security until a favorable change should 
lake place. 
On Point Innes distinct traces of an encampment were found, together with 
many relics similar to those found at Cape Riley. Captain Penny (whose squad- 
ron we met here) picked up a piece of paper containing the name of one of the 
officers of Franklin's Expedition, written in pencil, thus proving beyond a doubt 
that some of his party had encamped here ; but when, or under what circum- 
stances, it was difficult to say. The preserved-meat cans, moreover, bore the 
name of the person who had supplied his ships with that article. 
On Point Innes we also found the remains of an Esquimaux's hut ; but it had 
evidently been abandoned for many years. No recent traces of this people were 
found on any of the shores of Lancaster Sound that we visited. 
The weather becoming more favorable, we retraced our steps as far as 
Beechy Island, in order to make more minute investigations in that quarter. 
The vessels were made fast to the land-ice on the northwest side of the island 
on the 27th of August. The schooner Felix, Captain Sir John Ross, R. N., and 
the squadron under Captain Penny, joined us at this point. Consulting with 
these gentlemen, a joint search was instituted along the adjacent shores in all 
directions. In a short time one of Captain Penny's men returned and reported 
that he had discovered several graves. On examination, his report proved to be 
correct. Three well-made graves were found, with painted head-boards of 
wood, the inscriptions on which were as follows : 
1st. 
" Sacred to the memory of W. Braine, R. M., H. M. S. ' Erebus.' Died April 
3d, 1846, aged 32 years. ' Choose ye this day whom you will serve.' " 
2d. 
" Sacred to the memory of Jno. Hartwell, A.B., H. M. S. ' Erebus,' aged 23 
years. ' Thus saith the Lord of hosts, consider your ways.' " 
3d. 
" Sacred to the memory of Jno. Torrington, who departed this life January 
1st, A.D. 1846, on board H. M. S. ' Terror,' aged 20." 
Near the graves were also other unmistakable evidences of the missing expe- 
dition havihg passed its first winter here. They consisted of innumerable 
scraps of old rope and canvas ; the blocks on which stood the armorer's anvil, 
with many pieces of coal and iron around it ; the outlines of several tents or 
houses, supposed to have been the site of the Observatory and erections for 
sheltering the mechanics. The chips and shavings of the carpenter still re- 
mained. A short distance from this was tound a large number of pi-eserved- 
meat tins, all havii;ig the same label as those found at Point Innes. 
From all these indications the inference could not fail to be arrived at that 
