308 VOYAGE TO THE POLAR SEA. April 



was out of the way Eawson obtained possession of .the 

 coveted article, with which he quickly disappeared to 

 rejoin his party. 



' 2 3rd. — Captain Stephenson and Mr. Mitchell, 

 Hans the Eskimo, with William Dougall ice quarter- 

 master, and Henry Petty a marine, arrived with twelve 

 dogs from the " Discovery,'' having left that ship on 

 the 18th. They have experienced strong northerly 

 winds during the journey, and, like the other travellers, 

 a very rough road ; but, with the exception of the. 

 leader who is severely attacked with snow-blindness, 

 all are in excellent health. 



' Over rough ice a large team of twelve dogs is 

 too many for one sledge. If their traces are all of 

 equal length the dogs become collected too close to- 

 gether, and those who keep on the outside of the crush 

 are forced to drag with their trace at a considerable 

 angle, while several of the weak dogs being unable 

 to push their way into the crowd cannot tighten their 

 rope at all. 



1 A large party of dogs should certainly have traces 

 of different lengths ; but then in rough ground those 

 in advance would turn the corners too' sharply, and get 

 out of sight of the driver. Amongst hummocks, the 

 frequent sharp turns require the dogs to be as close to 

 the sledge as possible. 



' Dr. Moss, adopting night travelling, started late 

 in the evening for Cape Joseph Henry with a depot of 

 provisions for the return of the main party of travellers, 

 his crew dragging 207 lbs. a man. 



' Captain Stephenson accompanied Lieutenant 

 Archer for twenty miles on his way up Lady Pranklin 





