May, 1859. PART COMPANY FROM HOBSON. 223 



our whole supply, intending to deposit a small portion upon 

 the Clarence Islands. 



Hobson was unwell when we parted, complaining of stiff- 

 ness and pain in his legs ; neither of us then suspected the 

 cause. I gave him directions to search the west coast of 

 King William's Island for the stranded ship and for records, 

 and to act upon such information as he might obtain in this 

 way, or from the natives ; but should that shore prove destitute 

 of traces, to carry out, if possible, our original plan for the 

 completion of discovery and search upon Victoria Land, 

 comprising the blank space between the extremes visited by 

 Captain Collinson and Mr. Wynniatt. 



I soon found that my party had to labour across a rough 

 pack ; nor was it until the third day that we completed the 

 journey across the strait, and encamped near to the entrance 

 of Port Party, in King William's Island. Although the 

 weather was clear, and that by our reckoning we passed 

 directly over the assigned position of the two southern of 

 the Clarence Islands, yet we saw nothing of them. 



A day was devoted to securing a depot in a huge mass of 

 grounded ice, and in repairing and drying equipments, or, 

 to speak more correctly, in getting rid of the ice which 

 encumbered our sleeping bags and gear; this we effected 

 by beating them well and exposing them to the direct rays 

 of the sun. Magnetic and other observations gave me 

 ample employment, the only immediate result of which was 

 my being almost snow-blind for the two following days. 



On May 2nd we set off again briskly; our load being 

 diminished to thirty days' provisions, and the sledge sail set, 

 we soon reached the land, and travelled along it for Cape 

 Sabine ; it was very thick weather, and we were unable to 

 see any distance in consequence of the mist and snowdrift. 

 The following day was no better, and as the shore was 

 extremely low, we dared not venture upon leaving it to cross 



