1875 RETURN OF LIEUT. ALDRICH. 141 



dangerous to go on than to descend ; we were indeed 

 fortunate in at last reaching the summit of the cape. 

 I frequently looked at the place afterwards, but no 

 one ever again risked his neck there. 



The ice in Eobeson Channel was observed to be 

 tightly pressed against the shore, with a few discon- 

 nected pools here and there in the offing. In the 

 neighbourhood of the ship the pack had again closed 

 in against the Hoebergs. 



On the evening of the 12 th, Lieutenant Aldrich's 

 party returned after an absence of four days. He 

 had succeeded in establishing a depot of provisions 

 and exploring the coast-line for a distance of twenty 

 miles to the north-west. The travelling, owing to the 

 very rough state of the ice, and the deep snow with 

 its sticky wet foundation of sludge, was found to be 

 unusually heavy ; indeed, so bad was it that although 

 only laden with half weights, all three sledges broke 

 down. The few patches of young ice met with were 

 too weak and treacherous to permit sledges being- 

 dragged over them ; one sledge broke through and 

 was only recovered with much difficulty. 



With the fall of temperature that part of the 

 lower deck which was at a distance from the galley 

 fire became damp, but this was at once remedied by 

 the fitting up of an extra stove. 



On the 13th and 14th we experienced a strong 

 gale from the south-west with a heavy snow-drift and a 

 low barometer ; the temperature rising to 20° and the 

 pack drifting away from the land towards the north- 

 east, leaving a clear water-channel along shore. 



On the morning of the latter day the gale was 



