1852.] PREPARATION FOR FURTHER TRAVEL. 123 



fancied their steel fittings might have on the more im- 

 portant movements of the magnetometer. 



The walrus, before mentioned at our departure on the 

 north-east journey, floated or was driven by the pack 

 near the ship, and its carcase secured by our sportsmen 

 for the dogs. The body also of one of the others, shot 

 at a later date, was rescued from a bear, who intended 

 to devote it to his own use. Several bears had been 

 shot during my absence, and their carcases also served 

 to increase our supply of dogs' meat. 



The winter operations being in formal progress, and 

 not requiring the superintendence of heads of depart- 

 ments, my attention was directed to the conveyance across 

 the channel, to Cape Lady Frankin and Barrow Island, of 

 the necessary depots for the spring travellers. This ser- 

 vice was allotted to Commander Richards. A boat had 

 been stripped of every useless encumbrance, and a sledge 

 fitted to carry her. The depot was packed in casks, re- 

 duced in the stave to the utmost lightness consistent 

 with security, and the day appointed for this duty was 

 the 14th September. Our hill-scouts however reported 

 the ice to be loose, exhibiting suspicious streaks in ah 1 

 directions ; in fact, the middle-channel ice was still in 

 motion. I must say that I was not disappointed ; there 

 had been a manifest pressure from without that I must 

 follow the motions of my predecessor, without adequate 

 reason, and as he laid out his caches in autumn, I must, 

 perforce, follow his example. I certainly was prepared 

 to do so, where common sense pointed it out as practi- 

 cable or urgent : neither of these were appreciable at 

 present, and the risk to men, stores, and anxiety about 



