3i8 NEAREST THE POLE 



My programme for the spring work was to move 

 three divisions of sledges north as far as Conger, the 

 first to be in charge of Henson ; while I brought up the 

 rear with the third. 



From Fort Conger I should send back a number of 

 Eskimos; retain some at Conger; and with others 

 proceed north via Hecla or the north point of Green- 

 land, as circumstances might determine. 



I wanted to start the first division on the 15 th of 

 February, the second a week later, and leave with the 

 third March ist; but a severe storm, breaking up the 

 ice between Etah and Littleton Island, delayed the 

 departure of the first division of seven sledges until 

 the 19th. 



The second division of six sledges started on the 

 26th, and March 4th I left with the rear division of 

 nine sledges. Three marches carried us to Cape Sabine, 

 along the curving northern edge of the north water. 

 Here a northerly gale, with heavy drift, detained me 

 for two days. Three more marches in a temperature 

 of -40° F. brought me to the house at Cape D'Urville. 

 Records here informed me that the first division had 

 been detained here a week by stormy weather, and the 

 second division had left but two days before my 

 arrival. I had scarcely arrived when two of Henson's 

 Eskimos came in from Richardson Bay, where one 

 of them had severely injured his leg by falhng 

 under a sledge. One day was spent at D'Urville 

 drying our clothing, and on the 13th I got away 

 on the trail of the other divisions with seven sledges, 

 the injured man going to Sabine with the supporting 

 party. 



