1876 SLEDGE DIETARY. 2(U 



sledge journey during March' or the early part of 

 April, when a temperature of more than sixty degrees 

 below freezing-point is certain to be experienced. 



After a careful consideration of all the circum- 

 stances of the case, the chief difference that I can find 

 between the experiences of our travellers who suffered, 

 and those of former expeditions who did not, is the 

 greater or rather different labour undergone in conse- 

 quence of the heavy nature of the snow and pack-ice 

 met with by the parties from the 'Alert' and 'Dis- 

 covery,' and also the almost total absence of fresh meat ; 

 whereas most of the former expeditions obtained an 

 occasional meal of fresh game of one sort or another, 

 and some were fortunate enough to shoot as much as 

 they could possibly consume. 



I now continue the extracts from my journal re- 

 lating to the proceedings on board the 'Alert.' 



'1st. — The temperature is down to minus G4°, with 

 a light breeze from the north-west. It is far too cold 

 for human beings and, judging from the movements of 

 the dogs, for animals also; although they refuse to 

 go into an enclosure they are glad enough of any 

 shelter obtainable between them and the wind. The 

 weather prevented any work being undertaken outside 

 the ship except what was absolutely necessary, and 

 the walking parties were contented with shorter exer- 

 cise than usual ; every possible kind of face protector 

 being tried. 



' The preserved meat for the use of the dogs while 

 travelling has been taken out of the tins and broken 

 up into pieces of about two pounds in weight ; exposed 

 to the cold this has become frozen as hard as marble, 



