The Sun.
London, England, 1851-11-11 00:00:00

r
ts. - NOVEMBER 11, 1851.
• , •

with many bays of small extant, the general direction
being nearly west. The weather continued good, so
that we arrived at the N.W. extremity of Douglas
Island at a few minutes to eight A.M. on the Isth,
where we found abundance of drift weed to cook with.

As to return by Douglas Island would lead us out
of the straight road homewards, when we started on
the 16th for Wollaston Land, we carried with us the
provisions we had previously put en cache. We di-
rected our course to the most distant visible point,
bearing about N.N.W., and found that it was
nine miles distant, but in reaching it we were
delayed by rough ice, in rounding which we
increased the length of our walk very much, and
a very heavy fall of snow stopped our further
advance. Our next night's journey was rather long
to make up for the time lost by the bad weather.
For thirteen miles our course was about N.N.W.
along a series of bays and points; the coast the❑ ran
north for some distance, and afterwards, slightly to
the eastward until we encamped on a small peninsula
near the head of the bay, in lat. 69 deg. 1.00 long.
113.25, both by account. 17th and 18th May we
walked for 2 miles N. 28 deg. west, which brought
us to a point on which we deposited some pemican,
&c., having made another cache about seven miles
from our former day's sleeping place. We also left
here a small sledge on which I had hauled, from 35
to 50 lb. since leaving Richardson's Bay, two days
excepted. We now traversed a deep and wide bay in
a direction N. 40 W. towards some high hills, which
appeared to be not very far off; but finding that we
could not reach the coast there, I turned more to the
northward, and ended our night's walk on the west
point of a small bay, in lat 69 deg. 17 min. 30 sec.,
long. 114 deg. 7W. Being anxious to discover bow
the land looked to the northward, and as a high
hill, about thirteen miles inland, would afford
the opportunity of obtaining a very dis-
tant view; our next day's journey along
shore was only five and a half miles, the course
being west. Here I left the dogs and baggage under
the care of one of the men, whilst with the other I set
out for the hill already mentioned; but unfortunately
the walking was so bad, that although we were quite
unencumbered, we could get no farther than ten
miles, when we returned, rather fatigued, to our
sleeping place. Many partridges (Tetrao :Midas)
were seen, but they were so shy that only eleven were
shot. These birds are large, and fine eating. To
the large bay we had just traced, and to a range of
hills, of which the most prominent is the one I at-
tempted to reach, I gave the names of Simpson and
Colville, in honour of the Governor-in-Chief and
Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company's territories.
During the journey of the 19th and 20th the trend-
ing of the coast was still to the west, as far as our
sleeping place, on a point with high limestone cliffs,
hit. 69 deg. 15.54 N., long. 115 deg. 24.54 W. The
next night our course was to the north of west until
within a mile or two of the end of our night's walk,
which was nearly in a north direction to the head of
a small bay, where we took up our quarters in lat. 69
deg. 24. 47., long. 116 deg. 23. 34.
On the 21st and 22d we travelled nearly at N.W.
for five miles, which brought us to a cape, with lime-
stone cliff, at least 170 feet high. This Cape was
named after Captain Hamilton, R.N., Secretary to
the Admiralty.
A couple of miles to seaward there were thirteen
Esquimaux lodges, and we had an amicable interview
with the good harmless inhabitants, who were rather
timid at first, but soon gained confidence. It was
difficult to make them understand that no return was
expected from some presents I made them. None of
the women showed themselves, but all the men were
well and cleanly dressed in deer-skin. They were all
very fat, having evidently abundance of seals, flesh,
and fat, large quantities of which were carefully de-
posited in seal skin bags under the snow. We pur-
chased a quantity of this for our, dogs, and some
boots, shoes, and seal skins for our own use. After
a most friendly interchange of signs and words, few
of which could be understood on either side, we
parted, after six of them had walked some distance
with us, both parties apparently equally well pleased
with the meeting.
Our course was now N. 36 deg. W., across a bay
eleven miles wide, the north side of which was
bounded by a curiously shaped point which I called
Pullen, after the commander in the navy of that name,
who successfully performed the voyage from the west-
ward of Point Barrow to the Mackenzie River in

1829. To the bay the name of Lady Richardson was
given. Three miles further in the same direction
brought us to an island, which was the terminus of
our night's journey. This land is high but not
rocky, and about 3i miles long. It received the
name of Bell, after a chief trader in the Hudson's
Bay Company's service ; near it to the east there is a
small islet covered with large pieces of rugged lime-
stone.
Next night our course for 7 miles was N. 33 deg.
E. to a point with limestone precipice, 70 or 80 feet
high. The coast then rounded up to the northward
until it attained a true north direction, and for a mile
before we ended our night's walk, a N.N.E. course
into a small bay, where we rested for the day in lat.
70 deg. 00 min. 23 sec. N,, long. 117 deg. 15 min.
35 sec. W. .
The period I had allowed for our outward journey
having now arrived, I left our dogs and one of the
men here, whilst with the other I travelled half a
day's journey farther.
At 8 hr. 30 min. on the 23d night was beautiful,
as we started with no other incumbrance than a gun,
telescope, and compass, so that we travelled fast over
the hard snow and ice. After walking two miles to
the N.W., we turned a cape, which received the
name of Baring, in honour of the First Lord of the
Admiralty, beyond which tho cost took a sudden
bend to E. by N. for eight
.miles, and then became
more northerly for 6/ miles, which was the furthest
point reached. A high cape, which was called after
Sir George Back, bore N. 73 deg. E., about 7/ miles
distant, and bounded our view of the coast in that
direction.
Near the place from which I turned back the land
was fully 300 feet high, from which objects could be
seen at a great distance, and some land 15 or 20
miles off was observed, the most westerly point bear-
ing N. 25 deg. W., the view of its more distant eas-
tern extremity being obstructed by Cape Back.
It is difficult to determine whether the water di-
viding these two shores is a bay or a strait, but from
the little information I could obtain from the Esqui-
maux, I suspect it to be the latter. Unfortunately,
want of time (as the interests of the summer voyage
with the boats required my presence at this place)
would not allow me to decide this question. Our
return was effected at the same quick pace as our out-
ward journey, and we arrived at our bivouac, after an
absence of ten hours, with excellent appetites for
supper, to which, as usual, we did ample justice.
On the 24th May, at 8.25 P.M. we commenced our
homeward route, the details of which I shall not
trouble you with, merely remarking that the bearings
and distances were carefully checked, and several ob-
servations for lat. variation and time obtained, which
the cloudy state of the weather prevented being taken
previously.
Where the depth of the bays were at all doubtful I
made a circuit round them, whilst the men and dogs
followed the straight route.
We had several more interviews with the Esqui-
maux, all equally friendly as the first. At one of the
tents two of the women made their appearance, and
were not in the slightest degree timid.
All the land near the coast from Cape Lady Frank-
lin to Cape Baring is so extremely barren, that although
many deer cross from the main, they do not remain
near the shore, but make their way directly inland,
too far for persons, travelling as we were, and abun-
dantly supplied with food, to follow them.
On the 30th May we reached our cache of the 16th,
and found it, as well as two others, perfectly safe,
notwithstanding that one or perhaps all of them had
been seen by the Esquimaux.
On the night of the 30th we crossed over, in as
direct a line as the rough ice would permit, to the
high rocky point north of Cape Krusenstern, travers-
ing a portion of Lambert Island on the way.
Next night we reached the south side of Point
Lockyer, where a laughing goose (Anser Albifron)
was shot, and water was obtained without thawing
snow.
On the 2i of June the extremity of Cape Hearne
formed our head. quarters, at which place eleven geese,
all in fine condition, were killed.
Being anxious to know if a deposit of provisions,
left in icy Cove by Sir John Richardson in 1848, and
examined by. me in 1849, were still safe, I deviated
half a day's journey from our direct route in order to
visit it; but a deep snow-drift prevented my attain.
ing my object. As the Esquimaux appear to have
a great respect for caches of any kind, I believe it is
still quite safe, unless destroyed by wet or the barren
ground bear,
Our next sleeping place was seven miles N.W. of
Cape Kendall. Here ten geese were shot, and
double that number might have been got had we re-
quired them.
At 7.50 A.M. on the 4th of June, we encamped on
the south shore of Richardson Bay, two miles cast of
where we stopped on the 2d Ma During the last
two days there was much watery.on the ice, and it
was evidently high time that our journey should be
approaching its conclusion.
As the consumption of provisions for the coast

journey
itmuaysednoitubethoirut of place
mention days
beganth
the
here,
quantity
that
was 541bs. of flour, and 1081bs. pemican'Y-or nearly
21bs. for each person, per diem, with llbs. tea, 21bs.
chocolate, and 101b3. sugar, for all the
party during
the same time.
We stayed a day here to arrange loads for 0u
selves and dogs, and to make a cache among ther
-
rocks of 301bs. pemican, 201bs. grease (fuel reinai
ing), and several other things which we did
not re-
quire to carry with us.
On the sth of June, between 9 and 10 e.az., we
started for the Kendall, lightly laden, and came on to
within four miles of our cache of provisions made on
the Ist of May. One of the men was sent to exa-
mine it, but found that everything, except an axe, had
been either eaten or destroyed by a barren ground
bear. We saw a very large one next day, probably
the very fellow that had robbed us, but he was too
wary to allow us to get within shot of him—possibly
he may be less successful in avoiding us on our re-
turn to the coast.
On the 9th when nine miles from this, a large musk
bull was shot, and his flesh was found excellent—the
skeleton will be preserved.
A short time after midday on the 10th we arrived
here, having been five days coming from the coast,
during some of which we were fourteen hours on foot,
and continued wading through ice-cold water or wet
snow, which was too deep to allow our Esquimaux
boots to be of any use.
The latter part of our journey, if not the most
fatiguing, was by far the most disagreeable. Through
every hollow and valley, a stream, more or less large,
flowed, some of them so deep and rapid, that we had
often to walk three or four miles out of our course
to ,find a ford, and even then it was so difficult to
keep on our feet, that one of the men fell and lost our
cooking utensils, plates, pans, and spoons, so that for
two days we were compelled to use stones am substi-
tutes.

Our principal food was geese,•partridges, and lem-
mings. The latter being very fat and large, were
very fine when roasted before the fire or between two
stones. These little animal were migrating north-
wards, and were so numerous that our dogs, as they
trotted on, killed as many as supported them without
any other food.
The dogs did their work well considering their
leanness when we set out—had they been in better
condition, I have no hesitation in saying that our
daily journeys would have been three or four miles
longer. We were frequently delayed by rough ice,
but when this happened, we made up for lost time by,
additional exertion either on the same or subsequent
days. I subjoin a note of the daily and total dis-
tances travelled, counting this place as our starting
point.
I beg to enclose a very rough tracing of the coast
examined ; it has been done in great haste, and with.-
out pretensions to great accuracy, as I have many of
my calculations to revise, and several sets of lunar
distances to work out. Some islands are also omitted,
and the positions of others may require alteration.
In conclusion, permit me to observe that the con-
duct of the two men who accompanied me has been
excellent, and they, as well as myself, are in a much
better state for commencing another such journey than
when we left Fort Confidence.
Apologising for the hurried manner in which this
is written, my only excuse being the anxiety I feel
that it should be sent off with the least possible delay,
I have the honour to remain, sir, your most obedient
servant, (Signed)
JOHN RA.E.

DISTANCES TRAVELLED.

Kendal to coast, 64 miles • 2d and 3d May, 25
miles, 3d and 4th, 27.5 ; 4th and sth, 23 ; sth and
6th, 20.5 ; 6th and 7th, 19.75 ; 7th and Bth, 19.5 ;
Bth and 9th, stormy; 9th and 10th, 21.5 ; 10th and
11th, 21.5 ; 11th and 12th, stormy ; 12th and 13th,
19.5 ; 13th and 14th, 20.25 ; 14th and 15th, 21; 15th
and 16th, 10.50; 16th and 17th, 26.75 ; 17th and
18th, 25.5 ; 18th and 19th, 5 along coast, 20 inland ;
19th and 20th, 23 ; 20th and 21st, 22.25.' 21st and
22d, 1975; 22d and 23d, 23.50; 23d and 24th, 31 ;
24th and 25th, 23 ; 25th and 26th, 18.75 ; 26th and
27th, 23 25 ; 27th and 28th, 23 ; 28th and 29th,
24.5 ; 29th and 30th, 21 ; 30th and 31st, 16.5 ; 31st
and Ist June, 21; June Ist and 2d, 25.5 ; 2d and
23 ; 3d and 4th, 19.5 ; 4th and sth, did not travel ;
sth to 10th, 75. Total, 824.25 geographical miles, or
942 English miles.

PROPOSED FURTLIER SEARCH FOR
SIR JOHN FRANKLIN.
At the first ordinary meeting of the Royal Geogra-
phical Society, held last evening at their rooms,
Waterloo-place, a highly interesting paper was read
by Lieutenant rim, proposing a search for Sir John
Franklin in another direction. Sir R. Murchison,
Bart., the president of the society, took the chair.
There. were present—Chevalier Bunsen, the Prussian
Ambassador, with several distinguished Germans ;
Count Wielhorsky, of the Russian embassy ; W. R.
Hamilton, Esq., former president of the society ;
Captain Fitzroy, R.N., Captain H. Kellett, R.N., R.
Brown, Esq., president of the Linnasan Society ; Cap-
tain Penny, R.N., Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort,
Colonel Lloyd, Colonel Neil Campbell, Captain
Scorld and several Egyptian gentlemen, Mr. Rennie,
Major Carmichael Stnijth, &c.
The CHAIRMAN expressed his gratification at seeing
so crowded an attendance at their opening meeting,
and said the Government ought to provide a better
place of meeting for the Royal Geographical Society,
and he hoped this would be done before long. He
read letters from the Grand Duke Constantine and
the Crown Prince of Sweden, who had been elected
members of the society ; and, in alluding to the im-
portant subject about to be laid before the meeting
by Lieutenant Pim, read a letter which he (Sir R.
Murchison) had addressed to the Grand Duke Con-
stantine on the subject.
Lieutenant BEDFORD CLAPPERTON PIM said he
would commence by stating the circumstances which
led him to the belief that the missing ships were to be
found, not on the coast of America, but on that of
Asia. While on board hex Majesty's ships Herald
and Plover, the fate of Sir John Franklin was daily
the subject of consideration ; and he was struck with
the fact that the plans of relief adopted were based
on the supposition that the Erebus and Terror had
failed in the very commencement of their voyage.
He was convinced that Sir John Franklin would not
be found on the threshold of the north •west passage,
and applied himself to the consideration of where he
would have to be looked for. He was impressed with
the fact that Wrangel and Anjou had found an open
sea, in the cold season, in a comparatively high lati-
tude. In support of this view he read an extract from
a letter lately received from Admiral Sir Francis
Beaufort, in which that officer stated his conviction
that, if the Erebus and Terror should succeed in
passing through Wellington Channel, they would find
the Northern Ocean completely free from ice, and
find it an easy matter to penetrate to the west-
ward. Franklin's difficulties would therefore com-
mence when, having made his westing, he might en-
deavour to haul to the southward for Behring's Straits ;
for Cook, Beechey, Kellett, and all navigators who
had passed through that opening, found the soundings
decrease on approaching the southern edge of the ice,
making it almost demonstrable that a bank of some
hundreds of miles in length, and most likely rising up
into many islands, stretched across from west to east.
If those ships, therefore, did find their way through
Wellington Channel, they had got into some laby-
rinth of ice and islands abreast of Behring's Straits,
or further west on the flats off the coast of Siberia.
From that opinion of Sir F. Beaufort, and taking all
other circumstances into consideration, it appeared to
hmi
ttehria t
CShi ra
aJ.
ne
attained Franklin had
tthe
e passediio iy
m a
,throughand W e I -
would
then naturally steer to the westward; and when
reaching the meridian of Behring's Straits, would re-
enter the ice, in order to penetrate to the Pacific
Ocean. Difficulties, however, would again impede
his progress. Embedded in the frozen masses which
had checked the advance of every navigator from the
earliest
winds and
to the present
currents,tim
' he would
rendering i t
problematical
ba
ltetmh
ae
tal
mercy
ofthe
to
which coast he would be driven—to that of the new or
the old world. The endurance, hardihood, and courage
of Richardson, Kellett, Pullen, and Rae, had afforded
negative evidence that it was not the coast of
North America to which we must look for a solution
of the question—what has become of Sir John
Franklin ? The next place to which attention turned
was Siberia. Wrangel's narrative, proving that
pieces of wreck had been found on the Asiatic shores,
and historical accounts stating that various Russian
expeditions experienced the greatest _difficualtdye iitn penetrating even a short distance easterly,
evi-
dent that the very cause producedwhiberhingabeutan
m that effect
on the Russian vessels would
hcaopnps ee nq
ut toe
nbt
ley a, bt oh ua tt
result on any
the meridian of Behr'
ships w'nhgi'cshStmralgitis'it;
a well-organized search of the Asiatic shores would
afford results highly satisfactory. The Herald, after
an absence of six years, having returned to England,
after three times visiting Behring's Straits, without
more success than the squadrons on the Eastern side
of America, and the fate of Franklin being still
wrapped in mystery, he considered it his duty to
make known that conviction, and to submit to the
Lords of the Admiralty a plan for obtaining traces of
the missing expedition. This proposal was to start
on the 15th of this month, and to travel by way cf