MARKHAM AND PARR 255 



mixing the paint it would persist in freezing so that the 

 brush became as stiff as a stick every few seconds. 



Lieutenant Aldrich, supported for three weeks by 

 Lieutenant Giffard, was to explore the shores of Grant 

 Land, towards the north and west, along the coast-line 

 he had discovered in the previous autumn. Commander 

 Markham, seconded by Lieutenant Parr, was to accom- 

 pany Aldrich to Cape Joseph Henry and then strike off 

 to the northward over the ice. The other three sledges 

 were to accompany these as far as their own provisions 

 would allow, after completing the four's deficiencies and 

 giving them a fresh start from an advance post. 



When Markham was only eleven days out, one of his 

 crew complained of pain in his ankles and knees, and 

 was of no help for the rest of the journey. This was 

 the first appearance of the scurvy which was to ruin so 

 many hopes, for man after man was taken ill and 

 became a passenger. To make matters worse no 

 rougher road was ever traversed by sledge. Over a 

 labyrinth of piled-up blocks of ice ranging to forty feet 

 and more in height, through which the road had to be 

 cut with pickaxe and shovel, and amid gale and fog and 

 falling snow, the painful progress went on. With many 

 a " One ; two ; three ; haul ! " the heavy mass would be 

 dragged where the men could hardly drag themselves ; 

 one of the sledges taken a few yards by the combined 

 crews, who would then return for the other. On the 

 19th of April one of the boats was abandoned and this 

 made matters easier, but only for a time, as the disease 

 spread. Ai last it was decided to stop ; and on the 

 12th of May a party of ten went ahead to reach the 

 farthest north. 



