THE RETURN OF DAYLIGHT. 291 



afterwards the ice elevated into the hummocks, afforded 

 us a ' drinkable element ' during the winter ; and when 

 the men had exhausted the supply of top-pieces, they 

 supposing that all was alike, continued their labors, but 

 were disappointed in obtaining salt-water ice instead of 

 fresh." 



May it not be within the limits of possibility that the 

 men of the De Haven Expedition dug too deep at times, 

 and that brackish water, or at least not potable water, 

 was consumed in sufficient quantities to sow the seeds 

 of scurvy, which, by hard work and exposure in the 

 case of sledge-parties, and dampness and foul air in the 

 case of the ship-keepers, came to maturity ? 



As if to remove all lingering doubt as to his mean- 

 ing, Pr. Kane says : " The surface crust bore me readily 

 this evening at a temperature of 21° and 19°, giving no 

 evidence of thaw. Beneath, for two inches, it was crisp 

 and fresh. As I tried it lower, cutting carefully with 

 my bear-knife, it became spongy and brackish. At 

 eight inches remarkably so ; and at and below twelve, 

 salt-water paste. On the other hand, all my observa- 

 tions, and I have made a great many, prove to me that 

 cold, if intense enough, will, by its unaided action, in- 

 dependent of percolation, solar heat, depending posi- 

 tion, or even depth of ice, produce from salt water a 

 fresh, pure, and drinkable element." We have con- 

 ducted many experiments with no such experience to 

 record. And in order that I may have it in a succinct 

 and comprehensive shape, I have requested Dr. Ambler 

 to make me an official report on the whole subject, 

 wdiich will make up our version of the fresh water 

 question. (See Appendix F.) 



March 11 th, Wednesday. — The crew were engaged 

 again to-day in digging away the ice under the bows. 



