APPENDIX NO. Y. 
369 
This morning William was able to travel, his cramps Having left him. 
In three hours and a half we reached the old floe, and in three hours 
more we made the land, at the bluffy headland toward which we had 
directed our course since the 22d, and to which bearings were made 
on the 25th. This point is to the north and east of a little bay which 
seemed to terminate about ten miles inland. The dogs were tired and 
worn down, and their harness in a sad condition. It would require 
several hours to repair our sledge, as one of the runners was broken 
and nearly all the rivets lost. On examining our provisions, I found we 
had but about eighteen pounds of pemmican left. Eight days had been 
spent in making the passage of the channel, and I had no reason to 
suppose better fortunes would attend us on our return. 
As yet we had seen no bear, and since leaving the eastern coast not 
a single seal. The extreme improbability of taking any of these 
animals was too great to base upon it any plan of operations. The 
propriety of sacrificing part of the dogs for the sustenance of the 
remainder was very doubtful; especially as it was impossible for me 
to know how far that might interfere with your future plans. 
The travelling to the northward was good. The land-ice was broad 
and smooth, and the floe outside much less hummocky than at a greater 
distance from the shore. I felt assured that I was at or near the 
mouth of the channel you had so confidently predicted would be found 
opening to the northward of the so-called Smith's Sound. Every thing 
seemed favorable to our progress, except our short allowance of food. 
Had I possessed the whole world, I would have given it for fifty pounds 
of pemmican. 
There was now no alternative; and, after a halt of sufficient length 
to fix our position and rest the dogs, I reluctantly put about for the 
brig. I conjectured that we were at least one hundred and fifty or two 
hundred miles to the north and east of previous explorations. To make 
a survey of this new coast could now be my only object. 
May 28.—We rose this morning by two o’clock. I left William to 
repair the harness and mend the sledge, while I ascended a neighboring 
peak. But, before I could reach a point which would command an 
extended view, a thick fog set in, and, as it rolled along the sides of the 
mountain, it completely shut me out from the scene beneath. I had, 
however, a fine view of the interior. Peak after peak rose above the 
misty sea, and a great mountain-chain seemed to follow the trend of the 
coast-line. 
Keturning in time for the noonday observation, I found our position 
on the land-ice to be lat. 79° 42' 9" N., and Ion. 71° 17' W. The coast- 
Vol. II.— 24 
