304 
VOYAGE TO THE 
CHAPTEE XII. 
Interesting Narrative of the Boat Expedition — Point Barrow — Near Approach to Captain 
Franklin — Beset by the Ice — Perilous Situation and fortunate Release of the Barge — • 
Terrific Gale — Rejoin the Ship — Further Examination of Kotzebue Sound — Discover 
Buckland River — Mammoth Bones — Ice Formation — Approach of Winter obliges the 
Ship to quit the Sound — Repass Beering’s Strait — Gale — Proceed to the Southward — 
Future Plans — Make St. Paul’s Island — Aleutian Islands — Pass through Oonemak 
Channel — Arrived oft’ San Francisco in California. • 
Narrative of the Froceedings of the Barge of H. M. S. Blossom in quest 
of Captain Franklin, and to explore the Coast N. E. of Icy Cape. 
CHAP. After the signal was made by the Blossom on the night of the 
17th of August, to carry orders into execution, the barge stood in 
Narrative shore, and the next morning was off Icy Cape. Having a contrary 
Barge wind, she beat up along the land to the N. E., and shortly after noon 
the officers landed opposite a village of yourts, which was found to be 
deserted, and the houses to be closed up for the summer. These habita- 
tions closely resembled those of the Esquimaux, which have been already 
described. The country here was covered with a thick peat which re- 
tained the water and made it very swampy and almost impassable. 
Upon the beach there was found an abundance of coal and driftwood. 
Working to the north-eastward from this village, they discovered a 
shoal with only eight feet water upon it lying about 150 yards from 
the beach, which, having deep water within it, offered a security 
