348 
APPENDIX NO. Y. 
our coffee, and I smoked my last cigar; after which we pulled into our 
blanket-bags. 
October 25, Tuesday.—Were ready and on our way to the brig by 
9.45 a.m., keeping along the land-floe to Coffee Gorge. Dr. Kane 
had previously called my attention to a set of rocking-stones, the phe¬ 
nomena of which he explained satisfactorily. As soon as we sighted 
the vessel, the dogs kept us on a half-run until half-past one, at which 
time w'e reached it. 
Very respectfully, 
I. I. Hayes, Surgeon to Expedition . 
To Dr. E. K. Kane, Commanding Arctic Expedition. 
Report of the Advance Party , and attempt to reach the Northern 
Shore , in charge of Henry Brooks. 
Rensselaer Harbor, April 4, 1854. 
Sir:—I have the honor to submit the subjoined abstract from our 
field-notes:— 
March 19.—This day we left the brig at 1 P.M., and travelled in a 
northerly direction three miles, over very good new floes nearly parallel 
with the northeastern shore of Kensselaer Bay, and about two miles 
distant from it. The sledge dragged so heavily that at times it became 
immovable except by a standing pull. This was probably the effect of 
the intense cold, which causes the runners to adhere to the snow. Mr. 
Brooks desired me to return to the brig and inform you of our slow 
progress. At half past one o'clock you arrived with five men from our 
camp, bringing the big sledge as a substitute for the Esquimaux sledge, 
and the large India-rubber boat with two canisters of pcmmican, which 
added greatly to our load. 
March 20.—We started at 10 A.M., travelling over good ice; but 
the sledge dragged so heavily that Mr. Brooks first ordered the boat, 
and afterward the two canisters of pcmmican, to be taken off. The 
latter were deposited on the south side of a hummock, on the top of 
which was placed a smali red flag. I took the bearings of the neigh¬ 
boring icebergs and headlands, to aid in finding this spot again. To¬ 
day I noted two large icebergs wdiicli I saw last summer to the south of 
their present position. About the middle of August one was situated 
near Itefuge Inlet, the other near Bedevilled Beach, (Force Bay,) and 
