314 VOYAGE TO THE POLAR SEA. May 



purposes, and the sledge crews, formed of men 

 apparently in full health and strength, had obtained a 

 fair start on their journeys under as favourable cir- 

 cumstances as possible considering the heavy nature of 

 the ice. But on the 3rd Doctor Colan informed me that 

 five of the crew had undoubted scorbutic symptoms. 

 However, as each case had some predisposing cause I 

 was not then seriously alarmed for the general health 

 of the Expedition. 



< 3rd. — This evening Lieutenant Giffard returned, 

 having left Aldrich thirty miles beyond Cape Joseph 

 Henry ; he reports all the party well and in the highest 

 spirits. Owing to the soft snow the travelling had 

 been very slow. No game had been seen except one 

 ptarmigan and four hares at Cape Joseph Henry, 

 which were shot. 



8 ith. — Lieutenant May started with the dog-sledge, 

 weighted to 68 lbs. per dog, for Greenland ; to bring 

 back Mr. Egerton who is conducting the " Discovery's " 

 auxiliary sledge across Eobeson Channel. Simmons 

 being ill, Joseph Self has now taken his place as dog- 

 driver. 



8 To-day the ice was 79| inches thick.' 



This proved to be the maximum thickness it 

 attained throughout the season. 



' Last night we experienced a strong breeze from 

 the northward, with a heavy snow-drift and a fall in 

 temperature to minus 10° combined with a damp mist ; 

 the hoar-frost collecting on the rigging for the first 

 time this season. This damp wind is peculiar; we 

 trust for Markham's sake that it is not caused by the 

 ice breaking up. 



