278 VOYAGE TO THE POLAR SEA. March 



too little. In a matter of such vital importance the 

 commander of each party must rely only on himself. 

 Every article has to be weighed with the greatest nicety, 

 and the lightest material procurable used for wrapping 

 up the parcels ; for this purpose a raid has been made 

 on all the private linen. After three days' work in 

 weighing out groceries, which were tied up in some 

 yellow calico, Dr. Moss discovered that the dye used 

 to colour it contained arsenic, and this wrapping had 

 to be discarded. 



' It is only a month to-day since the sun reappeared, 

 and yet it is now so light at midnight that stars are 

 no longer visible. 



' 29th. — Lieutenant Parr reports having seen a 

 snowy owl ; it was very wild, and though pursued 

 for a long distance would not allpw him to get within 

 gunshot range. 



'A south-west gale last night, force 8, with a 

 high temperature, was followed with cirro-stratus 

 clouds, the first decided ones seen this season. To-day 

 the Fox instrument was taken on shore in order to 

 obtain base observations ; but the parts froze so solidly 

 together that the instrument could not be used. 



8 No traces of Eskimo have yet been discovered 

 in our neighbourhood, and as it would be quite impos- 

 sible for them to sustain life here during winter we can 

 scarcely expect to find any. Probably at Polaris Bay, 

 and other favoured places in Smith Sound pools of 

 water remain open, and seals may be procured ; but 

 here, since November, and for at least another month 

 — making half a year altogether — they certainly could* 

 not be obtained.' 



