38 LIMIT OF TRAVELLING SEASON. [October, 



forwarded to him in February or March. Commander 

 Richards volunteered, but there was ample time before 

 the period for starting arrived, to determine upon the 

 possibility of sparing an officer of his rank and of so 

 much importance, should accident befall me. 



Commander Pullen was further instructed, should it 

 be found practicable, to forward a party this season to 

 Cape Hotham, as well as Assistance Bay, where a depot, 

 containing provisions for ninety men, had been esta- 

 blished by Captain Kellett, and endeavour to obtain 

 tidings of our missing vessels, or to aid any persons he 

 might fall in with in reaching Beechey Island. 



The temperatures of October even of November 

 are so much above those deemed fit for travelling, that 

 we may, taking last year's tables as a guide, reckon 

 upon 5 to +21 up to the 10th of November, and 

 from the 10th until the end of the month principally 

 + 18 to as low as 22. The travelling temperature 

 is deemed 30, at least so the frost-eaters would wish 

 us to believe : we see but little of their faces on the 

 floe, unless well muffled up, even at zero. Under these 

 considerations, the journey across and back, by the ' As- 

 sistance' men, would occupy about ten clays ; but as 

 most of the crew of the ' North Star' have been changed, 

 are new, untried, and not to be compared to our picked 

 men, I consider that double that period is yet available. 



The duties which now require our consideration in- 

 volve the security of all valuable instruments and docu- 

 ments, and depositing them safely at Beechey Island. 

 The sledge parties detached from hence in the spring 

 will be charged with one portion of this duty, taking 



