590 THE VOYAGE OF THE JEANNETTE. 



nus 50°. Our highest temperature in summer 1880 was plus 

 46°, and thus far our highest has been plus 30°. 



This month seems to be a cold one, — plus 20° to plus 25°, — 

 and I am inclined to think this will be a cold summer. There 

 has never been a time that we could move a ship's length since 

 our first besetment. 



We have remained in camp since the loss of our ship in 

 order to pack our sledges, make all our arrangements for 

 proper traveling, and recruit our sick. We start with sixty 

 days' provisions, and besides ourselves we have twenty-three 



dogs. 



Geo. W. De Long, 



Lieut. U. S. iV., Commanding American Arctic Expedition. 



This I had carefully sewed in a piece of black rubber, 

 and placed it in an empty boat-breaker, which left on 

 the ice may get somewhere. 



Dinner at noon. At one p. m. piped down, — all 

 hands lying down to get some sleep before starting. 



At five p. m. called all hands again, and as soon as 

 possible had supper, or, as it ought to be called now, 

 breakfast. Broke camp at 5.50 p. m., and though six 

 was the time for starting it was 6.20 p. m. before we 

 got under way. All hands started with the first cutter, 

 while the dogs, managed by Aneguin, attempted the 

 No. 1 sled. The cutter went easily enough, but No. 1 

 sled was more than a match for our clogs. Occasion- 

 ally stopping, we lent a hand to start the sled from 

 a deep rut, and, finally, seeing the necessity of more 

 force, I detached six men from the cutter and went 

 back with them to help the No. 1 sled, and to this the 

 origin of our day's trouble may be referred. When I 

 sent Mr. Dunbar ahead yesterday it was to plant flags 

 for our first day's journey, and upon his return I could 

 see but three flags, and supposed there were no more. 

 Melville accordingly dumped the provisions at this third 



