In the evening Lieut Franklin communicated to the officers his intentions of returning as soon as the coast was found to trend eastward—and instead of retracing our route to the Coppermine River as was originally intended—to proceed to Arctic Sound and follow Hoods River (the Anaydezeth or at least what we supposed to be it) as far as we could and then to make the best of our way to Fort Providence. The reasons for this step were but too evident to the officers to admit of a dissenting voice—viz—The want of food—The badness of the canoes—the advanced state of the season—the impossibility of succeeding (that is to get to Hudson's Bay) and the long journey we must go through the barren lands until our arrival at the first trading post—and to this may be added the dissatisfaction of the men. I need scarcely mention the cheerfulness which displayed itself among the crew when it was told them that four days more would terminate the voyage—for all were heartily tired of one that presented nothing but misery and fatigue. [Back, pp. 159-160.]