1852.} REACH POINT REPOSE. 135 



mals, which refuse unsafe ice, they selected a safe pas- 

 sage ; I landed, and, establishing the ferry, sent the dogs 

 back with the driver to convey our equipment by light 

 loads on this sledge. Frequent trips increased confi- 

 dence ; for several had fallen in and got wet, and our 

 sleeping-bags unfortunately shared the same fate, my 

 own, I believe, amongst the number. Eventually all 

 were safely landed, and our tents pitched at Cape Re- 

 pose. Before ten, I think, thanks to an overruling Pro- 

 vidence, all were safely landed ; for I am convinced that 

 no security could have been found that night on the ice, 

 the temperature having again risen to 23. Many in- 

 deed had wet beds, but with our warm suppers this was 

 now but a trifle. 



On the morning of the 5th I despatched Commander 

 Richards with the other sledges to the ship, with two 

 days' provision, reserving the remainder to complete our 

 survey. On examining our old quarters, where we had 

 deposited the dogs' food, we found that it had been 

 robbed by bears ; but the dogs having devoured their 

 full travelling allowance of walrus at Hungry Island, 

 this was less important. Our subsequent motions being 

 but matters of survey, I shall pass them rapidly. In 

 our advance to the ship, we called at our North Cali- 

 fornia for our peinmican, and to seek any further speci- 

 mens of the precious metals which might turn up. In 

 the latter search I was unsuccessful. The temperature, 

 having fallen to 4, was in itself sufficient to check any 

 ardent pursuit after metals ; they bite as severely in 

 cold weather as gold does in California or Australia. 

 About noon \vc met a relief party from the ship, under 



