124 SECOND AUTUMNAL EXPEDITION. [September, 



them, rendered its propriety very questionable. This 

 fortunate consideration sealed its fate, it was postponed. 

 But in order to divert our minds to other more important 

 matters, and to dispel some doubts in my own mind 

 as to the complete search on the islands skirting the 

 shore between this and Cape Becher, for traces of our 

 missing ships, I determined on another small expedi- 

 tion, with the same force as before, intending to leave 

 at Cape Becher a record of our late proceedings, and 

 whereabouts, to guide Commander Pullen in his visit in 

 May. 



Having delayed until after the spring-tide of the 

 equinox, which period I calculated, from the record 

 of temperatures on preceding occasions, that from 6 to 

 10 were the best freezing-points for the sea, when we 

 might expect the ice would again be compact enough 

 for travelling, we left the ship on the morning of the 

 21st September, in the teeth of a southerly wind and 

 the snow in our faces, with thermometer at 10. I was 

 persuaded to leave the 'Hamilton' behind, as the small 

 pack-ice might destroy her ; but I had reason to regret it. 

 The expedition consisted of the same sledges and crews 

 as before, but without the surgeon and Mr. Grove, and 

 we had only fourteen days' provision. Our journey lay 

 for twelve miles, at least, over the smooth floes of North- 

 umberland Sound, through its neck (or channel whenever 

 thaws permit) into Baring Bay. But as this was also 

 a service of survey, we had frequently to stop, ascend 

 heights, and construct cairns: these matters will not 

 much interest the general reader I shall therefore skim 

 lightly over the surface. Our first halt for the night 



