340 
APPENDIX NO. V. 
piece of ice sufficiently large to bear us and our sledge, we ferried our¬ 
selves over without difficulty. About camping-time we arrived opposite 
to our first cache, but were unable to get upon the land-ice, owing to 
the low tide. In passing the place where we cached the fox on our 
outwarl journey, we found foxes and ravens had eaten the carcass, 
leaving scarcely a vestige of it. We made to-day about fifteen miles. 
October 15, Saturday.—Early this morning, the tide having risen, 
we endeavored to secure some bread from the cache. This we accom¬ 
plished by one man standing upon the shoulders of another. We im¬ 
mediately set off, but were soon stopped by a crack, which we crossed 
about a mile farther up. We then came to the bay, and, steering 
direct for the opposite cape, would have crossed without difficulty; 
but, as we neared the cape, the ice was broken up, and about sunset we 
came to a crack about one hundred fathoms wide, which it seemed 
impossible to cross; but in about half an hour we succeeded in detach¬ 
ing a large piece of ice, on which we ferried ourselves over as before. 
Wo travelled on over the smooth ice till near dark, when we came to 
another crack, which we did not attempt to cross, but pitched our tent 
and turned in. On the return of flood-tide the cracks closed, and, by 
sending a man ahead to try the strength of the ice, we succeeded in 
crossing fifteen cracks in the space of four or five miles. We en¬ 
camped for the night, having travelled about twenty-five miles. 
October 16, Sunday.—We set off at daylight, determined, if possible, 
to reach the vessel to-day. We headed directly for the cape of the 
bay in which our vessel was lying. About two hours after starting, we 
discovered an object nearly three miles from us in-shore, which on a 
nearer approach proved to be a tent. Before reaching it, we discovered 
it to belong to our commander, who, with one of the men and the 
Newfoundland dogs and sledge, were coming to meet us; and we were 
very glad to see them after our long absence. We soon had a warm 
drink,—a luxury we had not tasted for a week. The party then took 
upon our sledge the tent and baggage of the dog-sledge; and, leaving 
the man with them, I returned to the vessel with you, after having 
fallen into the water,—no very pleasant affair with the thermometer 
below zero. We arrived at the vessel at half-past twelve o'clock, and 
Mr. McGary and party joined us about half-past three. 
We remain your obedient servants, James McGary, 
Amos Bon ball.* 
To Dr. E. K. Kane, Commanding Arctic Expedition . 
Brio Advance, Smith’s Sound, October 30, 1853. 
* Compiled by mo from the original field-notes.—A. Bonsall. 
