A short length of mahogany from the 1845 Northwest Passage Expedition led by Sir John Franklin. The piece has been worked into an arrow shaft. The end is slightly bulbous and terminates in a wedge shape with a slot in it. The arrow shaft has a slot at its distal end for an arrowhead to be fitted. The break on its proximal end makes it more difficult to assess if it was complete or if it has a now missing proximal piece which would have been in direct operational contact with the bowstring. The nail may have been a later addition.

The arrow is similar to other pieces from Hayes River and Adelaide Peninsula recovered by the US expedition under Lieutenant Frederick Schwatka between 1878-1880. It is not specifically described in the 1881 catalogue of items that he sent back to Britain in 1881. However there are entries for 'Item No. 41-44. Native tools made from material from the wrecked ships, obtained from Eskimos on Hayes River' and also 'Items No. 45-48. Native tools obtained from Netchillik Eskimo on Adelaide Peninsula'. [TNA, ADM 1/6600].

Schwatka's expedition possibly found this in the possession of Inuit camped west of Stewart's Monument, Hayes River around 15-17 May 1879. Gilder records 'We obtained from them a few trifling relics of the Erebus and Terror, in exchange for knives and needles.' [Gilder, pages 77-78]. Klutschak also stated 'things made of iron copper and wood...' [Klutschak, page 64].

The piece of wood is marked with (8) in white paint indicating it was displayed at the Royal Naval Museum, Greenwich, with the original description of 'Case 6, No. 8. Pieces of wood &c from Hayes River'. The objects in Case 6 were amalgamated into one entry in the published version: 'Case 6. Native tools &c., obtained from the Ookosiksillik Esquimaux at Hayes River, and made of parts belonging to H.M. Ships "Erebus" and "Terror".'