120 ELISIIA KENT KANE. 



tion ; they were lashed together so as to form a pliable sledge, 

 and upon it the boats were cradled so as to be removable a 

 pleasure. 



"A fourth sledge, with a team of dogs, was reserved for 

 the transport of our sick, four of whom were still unable to 

 move, and for carrying on our stock of provisions. An aban- 

 doned Esquimaux hut, about thirty-five miles from the brig, 

 was fitted up as well as our means permitted, to serve as an 

 entrepot of stores and a wayside shelter for those of the party 

 who were already broken down, or who might yield to the first 

 trials of the journey. The cooking-utensils were made from 

 our old stove-pipe. They consisted of simple soup-boilers, 

 enclosed by a cylinder to protect them from the wind. A 

 metal trough to receive fat, with the aid of moss and cotton 

 canvas, enabled us to keep up an active fire. My provisions 

 were packed in water-proof bags, adapted in shape to the 

 sheer of the boats, and in no case rising above the thwarts. 

 They consisted, with the exception of tea, coffee, and small 

 stores for the sick, exclusively of melted fat and powdered 

 biscuit. The clothing was limited to a fixed allowance. Moc- 

 casins for the feet were made of our woollen carpeting, which 

 had been saved for the purpose, and numerous changes of dry 

 blanket-socks were kept for general use. For bedding, our 

 buffalo-robes were aided by eider-down quilted into coverlets : 

 the experience of former travel having assured us that, next 

 to diet and periodical rest, good bedding and comfortable foot- 

 gear were the most important things to be considered. 



"I took upon myself the oifice of transporting the sick and 

 our reserve of provisions, employing for this purpose a dog- 

 sledge and our single team of dogs. I carried down my first 

 load of stores in April, and on the 15th of May began the 

 removal of the sick. By the middle of June, all our dis- 

 abled men and some twelve hundred pounds of stores had in 



