1853.] REACH THE FIRST DEPOT. 253 



vent wetting the chronometer. A track-belt thrown to 

 me, and connected with others, for it was dangerous to 

 approach me, soon dragged me out like a walrus, and 

 ah 1 was right. The present condition and safety of our 

 wardrobes being a matter of considerable doubt, Mr. 

 Grove most kindly clothed my lower extremities until 

 matters were accommodated. Our only loss was ninety- 

 six pounds of bread and some pretty considerable damp- 

 nesses. The gutta-percha cases for bread proved too 

 brittle, and split ; they are certainly not adapted to the 

 rough handling of seamen: no man who cannot under- 

 stand (and feel for) them should be entrusted with, or 

 can derive advantage from them ; they will not stand 

 rough usage. The bread thus damaged was buried, and 

 a cairn erected to mark the spot, so that, if distress re- 

 quired us to fall back upon it, we knew where it was de- 

 posited. But many of my readers would doubtless like 

 to know how I relished this cold bath. I will describe 

 it in a few words. The unexpected immersion was not 

 pleasant : when in for it, I cared little about it, but the 

 tide and safety of chronometer did not allow me to enjoy 

 it : the cold was not felt, but a glowing sensation pre- 

 vailed until I recovered my customary dry clothing. 

 Moving forward towards Star Bluff, we pitched about 

 seven that evening off it ; but the ice proved too heavy 

 to allow us to pass to the land. 



On the Gth we pushed forward for the depot esta- 

 blished by Mr. Loney, but failed in reaching it by two 

 miles ; but on the 7th we succeeded in time to make 

 it a rating position for the chronometers. Here we ob- 

 tained the latitude and other important observations ; 



