1875 MARKHAMS RETURN. 169 



line there is a layer of granulated ice less solid than 

 that above and below it. After carefully examining 

 many floebergs, I conclude that all the pure ice has 

 been formed from the melted snow being gathered into 

 pools on the old floes and refrozen. The dust which 

 was originally intermixed with the snow eats its way 

 down into the brackish floe-ice at the bottom of the 

 freshwater pool during the heat of summer.' 



On the 14th, Dr. Moss walked out to Dumb-bell 

 Bay on snow-shoes, ancl there met Commander Mark- 

 ham and his three sledge crews, struggling homeward 

 through the deep snow. 



I did not expect Markham on board until the 

 following day ; but so great was the discomfort of 

 passing another sleepless night in the stiff and shrunken 

 tents and hard frozen blanket-bags and clothing, that 

 he made a forced march to get on board, sending 

 Lieutenant Parr in advance to report his intention. I 

 ordered a hot meal to be prepared, and all hands from 

 the ship walked out to meet the travellers. They fell 

 in with them at Point Sheridan, as they were struggling 

 through the last of the deep snow before' reaching the 

 mile and a half of hard ice leading to the ship ; this 

 was the first level ice they had met with throughout 

 their journey. 



The men were in wonderful spirits, but although 

 all were able to walk, several were severely frost-bitten. 

 The journey had been most severe ; but Markham had 

 nevertheless succeeded in establishing his depot of 

 provisions at Cape Joseph Henry. All made light of 

 the numerous unavoidable hardships they had under- 

 gone, remarking laughingly but truly, 'We could never 



