380 WINTER OCCUPATIONS. 



nedy and Bellot entered the ruined walls of " Somerset 

 House," and prepared to take a few hours' repose. A 

 fire was lighted in the stove, which had heated the end 

 of the building occupied by Sir John Ross's crew during 

 the dreary winter of 1832-33. Around this they sat 

 and supped ; and, after reposing, set out, about eleven 

 p. M., on their return to the encampment where the 

 sledge had been left. They reached it about two A. M. 

 of the following morning. From this point they retraced 

 their steps again to the ship, where they arrived on the 

 10th, at five o'clock in the afternoon, without having 

 encountered anything worth recording. 



During the winter, travelling parties were occasion- 

 ally sent out for the purpose of placing provisions en 

 cache, for the benefit of those who should afterwards 

 undertake a journey along shore to the southward, and 

 across the country in various directions. These parties 

 were often arrested by violent gales and snow-storms, 

 which seem to have prevailed very much during the 

 whole winter ; so much so, indeed, that the veteran 

 Hepburn observed, " that he had known but one gale 

 since entering Batty Bay, and that was the gale which 

 began when they came, and ended when they went 

 away ! ' 



They had a good library on board, and spent much 

 of their time in reading. The doctor kept school, and 

 the crew would often sit in groups, listening to his dis- 

 courses, or employed in making flannel socks, canvas 

 jackets, and other useful articles. 



Spring now drew on apace. This was indicated try 

 the increasing power of the sun and length of the da> 

 though the country retained its wintry aspect for montb 

 afterwards. About the middle of February, 1852, every- 

 thing being in a proper state of advancement for th. 

 commencement of the " grand journey/' preparations 



