478 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



hopefully confident of success, and all eager to accomplish all that 

 man can do. It is an animated scene, all are merry and glad, with the 

 exception, perhaps, of those few that must of necessity remain be- 

 hind, to look after the ship. The crews of each sledge consist of an 

 officer and seven men, and by a system which has already been adopt- 

 ed with great success on previous occasions, one sledge could be ad- 

 vanced to at least fifty days' journey from the ship, or more correctly 

 twenty-five days out, and depots placed for the return-journey. This 

 is effected in the following manner : After traveling in company for a 

 week, No. 6 sledge will complete the remainder to their full amount 

 of fifty days' provisions and return, the remaining five proceeding on 

 their way. When six more days have elapsed, No. 5 sledge will re- 

 turn to the ship, having filled up the remaining four to what they 

 originally started with, and so on until No. 1 sledge is left to proceed 

 by itself. In the mean time the sledges that have returned will imme- 

 diately repx'ovision, and will lay out depots for the use of, and meet 

 the returning sledges, ready to render any assistance they may re- 

 quire. 



As an outline of the daily routine obseiwed by sledge-parties dur- 

 ing their arduous employment may be of interest, we will briefly re- 

 fier to it. As it may be advisable some time to travel during the 

 night, for the same reason that Parry did, we will not name any hour, 

 but merely the time of rising and going to bed. We will begin witli 

 the commencement of the day's work. The first thing to be done is 

 to awaken the cook of the day, who at once sets to work to prepai-e 

 breakfast. The time occupied in preparing this meal is usually about 

 an hour from the time he is called. When nearly ready, he brushes 

 off the condensation that has taken place during the night, from off 

 the coverlet, and from the inside of the tent, and then arouses the 

 whole party. If the weather is very severe they sit up for breakfast 

 in their bags, but if not, they roll them up, as also the tent-robes, put 

 on their moccasins, etc., ready for the march, and then, sitting on 

 their bags and knapsacks, discuss their morning meah The sleeping- 

 bag is, as its name designates, a large bag made of the Hudson's Bay 

 three-point blanket or of duffle. It is about seven feet long, and is best 

 fitted with the opening in the side instead of at the top, as in this way 

 it is more convenient to get into and out of, and the more readily 

 enables a man to sit up and keep it over his head while eating his 

 meals or while writing. 



When breakfast is finished, the biscuit and pork to be used for 

 lunch should be measured out, and placed in the luncheon haversack; 

 dilute the day's allowance of rum, and any water that may be remain- 

 ing put into the men's water-bottles. Issue to the cook the day's 

 allowance of stearine, and put the requisite amount of spirits of wine 

 into the lamp. The cook trims both lamps, and is then relieved by 

 the cook whose turn it is for the next twenty-four hours. In large parties 



