difficulty. Whilst awaiting the arrival of Saunders with the remainder of
the expeditionary force, every endeavour was made to gain knowledge of
the difficulties of the river, and Cook's log notes how the boats were
out "sounding ye channel of ye Traverse"; and on the 11th June there is:
"Returned satisfied with being acquainted with ye Channel." The Traverse
here spoken of is that channel running from a high black-looking cape,
known as Cape Torment, across into the south channel, passing between the
east end of the Ile d'Orleans and Ile Madame. It is still looked upon as
one of the worst pieces of the river navigation.

The British had some charts of the river showing the course taken by the
French vessels, for in a note to the orders issued by Saunders on 15th
May to the Masters of Transports, special attention is called to "a plan
or chart showing the route which His Excellency intends to make from
Louisburg Harbour to the Island of Bic"; and this chart was most probably
taken from one captured by Boscawen in 1755, and published in September
1759 by T. Kitchen in the London Magazine having the Traverse shown on a
larger scale. The soundings taken at the time Durell was waiting would be
to verify those shown on this chart.

After a short delay in Halifax, Saunders left for Louisburg to gather up
the remainder of the forces and stores, and on his arrival still found
the port hampered by ice; in fact, Major Knox, of the 43rd Regiment,
relates that even so late as 1st June men were able to get ashore from
their ships, stepping from one piece of ice to another. There was also
further cause for dissatisfaction, delay in the arrival of the ships with
soldiers and stores. Some of the troops had been directed to other work
without any intimation to Wolfe, whilst others were in a very bad state
from scurvy and measles; some had lost their entire equipment, and it was
with the greatest difficulty replaced; the supply of money was criminally