1852.] EFFECT OF THE GALE ON THE SNOW. 161 



nlla, but I feel confident in the average result that the 

 law will hold good, tides, winds, etc., taken fairly into 

 account. To-day, 15th November, after inspecting the 

 drift banks which seem to have their points of concen- 

 tration between the stern of the ' Assistance' and the 

 bow of the ' Pioneer,' I ascended the hill commanding 



O 



the anchorage (Mount Beaufort) to examine the effects of 

 the late gale. It was now denuded, not a place on which 

 to impress a footmark. And yet, some few days since, on 

 this very ground, I had watched the operation of cutting 

 "bricks" for building from this same spot, then a bank 

 of solid snow preserving an average clear depth of one 

 foot, and capable of bearing my weight ; the entire depth 

 was about three feet. Some estimate therefore may be 

 formed of the unceasing force and scour of the wind and 

 drift snow, from the perfect denudation of this peninsula, 

 and indeed of all the visible outlines of the land. It re- 

 quired but one bright return of that absent sun to shed 

 his rays on the landscape, and ideal spring would glad- 

 den our eyes. As I reached the summit I was yet more 

 surprised : there the denudation was complete ; every 

 opposing obstacle had been overcome, and I at least 

 imagined that on the slope of the opposite declivity the 

 common laws of Nature would be observed, that a de- 

 posit would be found. Not a vestige of snow remained, 

 and if any difference existed, it was more denuded on 

 that side, even to its very base. 



It was amusing to observe its effects on all the line of 

 supports, or snow pedestals, of the electrical wires. They 

 originally stood complete, as at a, but were now reduced 



VOL. i. M 



