The weather was always dry and clear with the exception of the 24th and 25th October at Gatrone, where, during a violent gale from S. E., black clouds covered the sky, and a little rain fell at 11 h. A.M. on the 25th. Violent rain I experienced at Madrusa at 2 h. P.M. on November 1, and during the following night.

Near and at Tibu the sky is always overcast with a thick haze in consequence of the fine sand dust which is raised by the E.N.E. wind, blowing in this country every day from sunrise until 1 h. P.M. with great violence.

Meteorological observations made at Kuka in Bornu from the 19th of January to the 30th of June, 1854.

These observations were made, under my direction, by Corporal Church, of the Royal Sappers and Miners, who read off the instruments every day at 8 o'clock A.M., at noon, and at 3 and 6 o'clock P.M. In the MS. journal will be found, in the first column, the dates; in the second, the readings of Barrow's barometer, with the thermometer attached to it in the third; in the fourth column those of a glass tube, divided into 005 of an inch, and filled here with mercury. There is to be added the correction for depression, amounting in the unboiled tube to 0.04. In the next column, under "T," is written the temperature of air observed on a thermometer hanging free in the shade; and in the next two columns the readings of the hygrometer-i e., of two thermometers, one with a dry and one with a wet bulb. Under the head of Th. O, are two columns, inscribed " 5 m." and "10 m.” There are observations of a thermometer with a black bulb exposed 5 minutes or 10 minutes to the rays of the sun these are only few, owing to the cloudy and hazy weather predominant here. Then follow observations made on thermometers which were kept completely dry in well-covered holes, 2 inches in diameter, 1, 3, and 5 feet under the surface of the earth. The readings of these instruments, as well as of that with the black bulb, can be compared immediately with the observed temperature of air; all the thermometers having been corrected for their respective errors. Then comes the direction and strength of wind, the strength being indicated by numbers, from a gentle breeze (1) to a gale (4). In the last small column will be found the state of the sky; "C" indicating clear weather, "H" haze, with one, two, or three dashes according to the density of it-" H" being a light white hue in the blue sky, and "H"" a covering so thick that the disc of the sun can just be seen. This haze is occasioned by the exceedingly fine dust of the clayey soil, the particles of which remain suspended

in the air a long time after all wind has ceased. The numbers in the column show the quantity of clouds, and mean (1.) that about; (2.) that ; (3.) that ; and (4.); that the whole of the sky is overcast. Whenever the instruments were read at more than 15 m. beyond the time above mentioned, it will be found remarked in the last column.

The temperature of the water of a well 48 feet deep and only 18 inches in diameter was, from January up to the end of June, very constant-88° 3′; never varying more than 5' from this

average.

The temperature of boiling water I determined on March 23 at 23 h. 0 m. (using, instead of distilled water, boiled well water); and found, as mean of 50 readings, 210° 378; temperature of air 100-8, barom. 29.16.

Water of the Lake Chád, boiled on March 23 at 23 h. 50 m., by 210° 491 (mean of 60 readings), air 1021, barom. 29.16.

March 24, at 5 o'clock, well water boiled at 210 247 (mean of 50 readings), air 100-3, barom. 29.08. As the mean height of barometer here is about 29-20 (at 80°), I have reduced the above-mentioned observations to this standard, and they give, corrected likewise for temperature of air :—

Kuka is situated at 12° 15' 14" N. lat., and 13° 24′ E. of Greenwich.

H. U. Addington, Esq., Foreign Office.

Kuka, Jan. 19, 1855.

SIR, I have the honour to communicate to you that I leave Kuka to-morrow to proceed, by way of Yakóba, to Adamawa, following up the discoveries of Dr. Barth-a journey which will be now comparatively safe and easy, in consequence of the friendly relations he has established with the Sultan Alío, and furnished as I am with letters from Sokatú.

ED. VOGEL, Ph. Dr.

XVIII.-Arctic Exploration, with Information respecting Sir John Franklin's missing Party. By Dr. JOHN RAE, F.R G.S. (Gold Medallist.)

Communicated by the HUDSON BAY COMPANY.

Read, November 13, 1854.

York Factory, Hudson's Bay, September 1st, 1854. SIR, I have the honour to report for the information of the Governor, Deputy-Governor, and Committee, that I arrived here yesterday with my party all in good health, but, from causes which will be explained in their proper place, without having effected the object of the Expedition. At the same time information has been obtained and articles purchased from the natives, which prove beyond a doubt that a portion, if not all, of the then survivors of the long-lost and unfortunate party under Sir John Franklin had met with a fate as melancholy and dreadful as it is possible to imagine.

By a letter, dated Chesterfield Inlet, 9th August, 1853, you are in possession of my proceedings up to that time. Late on the evening of that day we parted company with our small consort, she steering down to the southward, whilst we took the opposite direction towards Repulse Bay.

Light and variable winds sadly retarded our advance northward; but by anchoring during the flood, and sailing or rowing with the ebb tide, we gained some ground daily. On the 11th we met with upwards of three hundred walrus lying on a rock a few miles off shore. They were not at all shy, and several were mortally wounded, but one only (an immensely large fellow) was shot dead by myself. The greater part of the fat was cut off and taken on board, which supplied us abundantly with oil for our lamps all winter.

On the forenoon of the 14th, having a fair wind, we rounded Cape Hope and ran up Repulse Bay; but as the weather was very foggy, completely hiding every object at the distance of of a mile, we made the land about 7 miles east of my old winter quarters. Next day, midst heavy rain, we ran down to North Pole River, moored the boat, and pitched the tents.

The weather being still dark and gloomy, the surrounding country presented a most dreary aspect. Thick masses of ice clung to the shore, whilst immense drifts of snow filled each ravine, and lined every steep bank that had a southerly exposure. No Esquimaux were to be seen, nor any recent traces of them. Appearances could not be less promising for wintering safely, yet I determined to remain until the 1st September, by which date some opinion could be formed as to the practicability of procuring sufficient food and fuel for our support during the winter, all the provisions on board at this time being equal to only three months' consumption.

The weather fortunately improved, and not a moment was lost. Nets were set, hunters were sent out to procure venison, and the majority of the party was constantly employed collecting fuel. By the end of August a supply of the latter essential article (Andromeda tetragona) for fourteen weeks was laid up; thirteen deer and one musk bull had been shot, and one hundred and thirty-six salmon caught. Some of the favourite haunts of the Esquimaux had been visited, but no indications were seen to lead us to suppose that they had been lately in the neighbourhood.

The absence of the natives caused me some anxiety, not that I expected any aid from them, but because I could attribute their having abandoned so favourite a locality to no other cause than a scarcity of food, arising from the deer having taken another route in their migrations to and from the north. On the 1st of September I explained our position to the men, the quantity

* Which was to complete the Survey of the W. Coast of Boothia.-J. R.