Demoine courier., 1854-11-16


others under boa, they had turned owe,
to form shelter, and several lay scatter
ed about in dtFeren, directions. o
those found on the Island, une was sup
posed TO have been an officer, as he had
telescope over his shoulder, and his
double barreled gun lay underneath him
From the mutilated state OF many Of
the corpses, and The contents of the ket
ties, II is evident thai our miserable
/ countrymen had been driven to the las,
| resource--cannibal a means OF
proloneng life.
There appears 10 have been an abund-
ant stock of ammunition, as the powder
was cm2tled in heap on the ground by
The natives, out of the kegs or cases con.
tain!ng ii, and quantity of ball and
shot was found below high water mark,
having been left on the ice close to tho
beach. There must have been a num-
Der OF watches. telescopes, com passes,
guns, Several double barreIed,) &c. all
OF which appear TO have been broken .,
as saw pieces Of different articles with
the Esquimaux, and, together with some
silver spoons and forks, purchased as
we could obtain. A list Of the mos. i'm
poriant nf these enclose, with a rough
pen and ink sketch Of the cres's and in
'uals on The forks and spoons. The ar
tlcles themselves shall be handed over 10
the Secretary Of HE Hon. ii. B. Co.,
ou my arrival in London.
None o! the Esquimaux with whom
! conversed had seen The "whiles," nor
had they ever been a, The place where
the dead were found. but had their mfor-
nation from hose. who had been there,
and those who had seen the party when
alive. u
From the head of Pelly Bay-which
is bay, spite of SIR II. Beulor,'s opin-
ION 10 !he contrary-l crossed 60 miles
of land III westerly direction, traced
The west shore from Castor and Pollux
river to Cape Porter Of Sir James Ross,
and could have got within Thirty or forty
miles OF Beloit strait, but though, i,
useless proceeding further. as could no,
complete he whole.
Nevef, in my former Arctic journeys.
had | met with such an accumulation Of
obstacles. Ergs. storms, rough ice. and
deep SHOWS we had to fgh, against
On one occasion we were iour and q half
days unable 10 get glimpse of HE sun,
or even to make cut his position in the
heavens. This, on level coast, where
the compass was of little or no use, " as
perrlexlmg in the extreme.
The weather was much finer on our
return Journey than when outward bound
aud our loads being lighter, our DAYS
marches were nearly double The distance,
and we arrived at Repuse Bay on the
26'h May, without accident except in
one instance. in which one Of the party
los, tee from frost bite.
The commencement of spring was
very fine bu. June and July were colder.
We we're unable to ge; out of the bay
until The 9Th Of August. ..-. ~
Our progress along the coast as far as
Cape FulIe ton was much impeded by
ice, but on getting to the southwark oil
The cape we had clear water, and saw
no ice afterwards. 81 4. .#ase. ill., s.
The conduct of the men, am happy
TO say, was, generally speaking. good;
and we. had nor single case of sickness
during our absence. as ... u..
Being anxious to send this 10 Red riv.
er by ,he first boats, write in haste aud
briefly, but shall have pleasure in send,
ing more detailed accoun. by some iu
ture opportunity. -asta..-at .s.Gs= ~
With the utmost respect, have the
honor 10 be our obi sery'l, ......t
.asaHes-.. l...a.s JOHN RAE.