260 VOYAGE TO THE POLAR SEA. March 



returned safely to their ships, thereby proving that the 

 diet was fairly suitable, I decided to follow the former 

 custom, and only to send lime-juice for use during 

 weather when it could readily be melted. Accord- 

 ingly, arrangements were made for it to be forwarded 

 to the most distant depOts for the use of the advanced 

 sledge crews when returning in May or June, which 

 was as early a date as any sledge party travelling in 

 the Arctic regions had ever consumed such a ration. 



I take the report of the Committee to mean that in 

 their opinion had lime-juice been supplied the disease 

 would nevertheless have broken out at a later period. 

 If this be . a correct reading of the words ' early out- 

 break,' then all future Arctic explorers are warned 

 that they must, sooner or later, expect an attack of 

 scurvy unless a decided change can be made in the 

 usual Arctic rations, and some plan devised of keeping 

 the ship as dry and comfortable as if she were in a 

 temperate climate. 



I fully concur that a change of dietary for the crews 

 of both ship and sledge is advisable. I am further of 

 opinion that the numerous successful sledge journeys 

 performed during the Franklin Search had induced 

 a dangerous confidence in arctic men, and that former 

 travellers, without being aware of it, were in reality on 

 the verge of the same dire disease which attacked our- 

 selves. 



It is possible that the painful experience gained by 

 us may render Arctic exploration by sledges safer than 

 it has hitherto been ; but unless for the purpose of 

 saving life I consider that no one should be called 

 upon to undergo the fearful privation of an Arctic 



