might be afforded them. Other thoughts then rapidly filled my mind, of my own domestic ties and home; but the moment was too happy and full of joyous hope to do aught than think cheerfully and brightly of all things; so, with one more glance around, I too went below, and in a short time more also sank into rest.

CAPE YORK.

CHAP. XV.

VISIT THE SHORE.-COMMUNICATION WITH

THE NATIVES. - CALOOSÀ.

AN ESQUIMAUX POSTMAN. ΤΟ CIVILISE ONE OF THE THOUGHTS ON THE SUBJECT.

SLEDGES. MEETING BE

TWEEN "ADAM AND THE CAPE YORK NATIVES.

INFORMATION OBTAINED.

RETURN TO THE SHIPS.

THE following day, Tuesday 13th, was beautiful in the extreme. A light air from the northward, in the early part, proved no hindrance to our direct progress along the land; for the order of sailing, or rather steaming, was still the same as yesterday. After breakfast, I went on board the "Assistance," to give Captain Ommanney and the officers a parcel of newspapers from those which the Proprietors of the "Morning Herald" had, with their usual kindness, sent us, and which we purposely got up yesterday from the lower hold, where they had been stowed. While waiting there a few moments, it was reported that some natives could be seen upon the snow, under the cliffs of Cape York, abreast of which we now were. I returned to the "Albert," and Captain Forsyth at once determined

to open a communication with these people, should the Government ships heave to for a similar purpose. A signal was hoisted from the "Assistance," which, in a short time, was responded to by the "Resolute;" and our boat, containing the captain and myself, with a good crew, started for the shore the moment we observed that the order to communicate had been given, and that the "Assistance," with the "Intrepid," Lieut. Bertie Cator, were rounding to. We waited a little astern of the former vessel until Captain Ommanney's boat should precede us; but it was. decided that the steamer should run close in, while the other two vessels stood on their course. Accordingly, in company with Captain Ommanney and some of his officers, we proceeded on board the "Intrepid," and, in a quarter of an hour, were alongside the ice, which lined the coast, and formed the only sort of beach to be found there. The great object we had in trying to communicate with these people on shore was to see if any tidings could possibly be gleaned from them respecting the missing ships or crews under Sir John Franklin's orders; or of the "North Star." It has been thought by many accustomed to the dangers of Melville Bay that, after all, the "Erebus" and "Terror" never got through it, and were stopped on their voyage in this place. But I merely give this as a remark frequently made

VISIT THE SHORE.

191

by those who talked of the subject on board of those vessels we fell in with during our voyage, and not as any opinion of my own. With regard to the "North Star," it was more probable that something might be known; and, indeed, it was always my practice, whenever up aloft in the "nest," to examine well and carefully the whole coast as we passed it, so that nothing should escape our notice that could be seen. In the present instance I was not only desirous to have communication with some human being inhabiting this dreary land, for the purpose mentioned; but I was also glad of the opportunity thus afforded of seeing and talking to some of the race called by Sir John Ross, in his first voyage, "Arctic Highlanders ;" this being the place for them. And such a place for Highlanders, or Lowlanders, or any other human beings to exist in, can never be rightly imagined by those who have not been here. I have already stated that the aspect of this country is sterile in the extreme. Indeed, bare rock alone, in numerous cases covered with mountains of snow, is the only land, along the entire coast, that is visible. In the background are seen tremendous glaciers, extending for miles and miles in length, and rising to a height far above anything in the front of the picture; while, down the valleys, run solid streams of frozen snow, rushing occasionally

with the. force of an avalanche into the open water, or breaking through the "floes" attached to the land, and forming those enormous bergs which are met with, throughout Melville Bay, in numbers. Not a speck of anything like vegetation is visible; not the smallest signs of aught that could support animal life. And yet here, in this the almost furthest extreme of northern land yet touched by civilised man, are to be found some of those strange beings belonging to the Esquimaux tribe.

The moment we had landed on the ice, two of the natives came running towards us. It was the first view I had had of these singular creatures on their own native shore. While some of the officers were engaged trying to get information out of them, I observed that one seemed of a more inquisitive nature than the other, and that he was withal more pliable, and capable of yielding to impressions. This man's name was afterwards ascertained to be "Caloosà," as well as it can be written down from the guttural way of pronouncing their words which this people have. He was, comparatively speaking, a fine-looking young man, and indeed, like all his fellows, always upon the grin; I therefore more particularly attached myself to him: but all that any of us could glean from him or his companion, was very trifling. I tried him, myself, by signs and dumb representations; and