298 NEAREST THE POLE 



when I hoped the big floe would move and let us pro- 

 ceed, I landed at Cape D'Urville, deposited a small 

 cache of supplies and climbed the bluffs to look at the 

 conditions northward. 



August 2 ist, I went on a reconnoissance along the ice- 

 foot to the head of Allman Bay and into the valley 

 beyond. The night of the 21st young ice formed, 

 which did not melt again. On the 28th I attempted 

 to sledge over the sea-ice to Norman Lockyer Island, 

 but found too many weak places, and fell back on the 

 ice-foot. The night of the 29th the temperature fell 

 to -1 3° F., and on the 31st the new ice was four and a 

 quarter inches thick. On this day I went to Cape 

 Hawkes and climbed to its summit, whence I could see 

 lakes out in Kane Basin, but between them and the 

 Windward the ice was closely packed — a discouraging 

 outlook. Only a strong and continued westerly wind 

 would give me any chance. I could not leave the ship 

 for fear an opportunity to advance would occur in my 

 absence. 



September 2d, I started on a sledge trip up Princess 

 Marie Bay. At Cape Harrison the strong tidal current 

 kept the ice broken, so that I could not round it, and 

 the ice-foot was impracticable for sledges. I went on 

 foot to the entrance of Cope's Bay, surveying the shore 

 to that point, and returned to the ship after four days. 

 During this trip I obtained the English record from 

 the cairn on the summit of Norman Lockyer Island, 

 left there twenty-two years ago. This record was 

 as fresh as when deposited. 



September 6th, I left the ship to reconnoitre Dobbin 

 Bay, the head of which is uncharted, returning three 



