92 VOYAGE TO THE POLAE SEA. May 



' As we had to take to the ice we took advantage 

 of the good floes that lay in our direction, and struck 

 the land again some distance beyond the cliffs, which 

 in consequence of a remarkable black rock like a horn 

 projecting from one part, we called the Black Horn 

 Cliffs. 



' The next three journeys were spent in crawling 

 along the sides of the never-ending snow-slopes, some- 

 times halting for hours, while as many as could be 

 employed were cutting a road in the hard, slippery 

 snow, wide enough for the whole breadth of the sledge. 

 The angle of these slopes — carefully taken with a 

 clinometer by Dr. Coppinger — showed that they varied 

 from 20° to 24°. If the snow was hard it was im- 

 possible to stand on this latter incline, and here broad 

 roads had to be cut. So direct and heavy was the 

 pressure from outside on some parts of these slopes, 

 that the noebergs were forced right up on to them, 

 and left us nothing but the steep talus of the cliff by 

 which to pass. 



' On the 4th of May we arrived at a place which 

 seemed so suitable for a depot that we determined on 

 leaving our three water-tight metal cases there, con- 

 taining 120 rations, or ten days for twelve men, instead 

 of the regular depot farther on, thus reserving four 

 days for possible delays in repassing the Black Horn 

 Cliffs. Dr. Coppinger, who was to leave us on the 

 5th, could gain nothing by waiting until that time, as 

 we were then halted in order to cut a long extent of 

 road ; so, giving us such provisions as he could spare, 

 he set out on Jus return, having himself the day before 

 walked on to Cape Stanton. 



