1876 DEATH OF PETERSEN. 319 



The snow-fall since the 28th of April is estimated at 

 one and-a-half inches, making six and a half since the 

 1st of March. 



' 11th. — Doctor Moss shot a snow-bunting to-day. 

 Although the temperature of the air is only 15°, near 

 the sunny sides of the floebergs it is above 32°, conse- 

 quently each is decorated with a hanging necklace of 

 short graceful icicles., 



1 The snow on the hill-tops is disappearing very fast 

 by evaporation. The hair-hygrometer continues to 

 work in an unsatisfactory manner ; after being cleaned 

 it acts correctly for two or three days, but then remains 

 fixed in one position. 



' IWi. — Niels Christian Petersen was buried to-day 

 on the brow of a hill a quarter of a mile from the ship 

 where the snow never collects ; the grave will therefore 

 always remain conspicuous. No documents are buried 

 near it, so it need never be disturbed. 



1 To-day the gravel exposed to the sun ate its way 

 down into the snow for the first time, but the ice is not 

 affected yet. The large flakes of snow that fall now 

 are conspicuously different from the fine particles which 

 fell during the cold weather. 



' We are all unanimous in favour of a snow-shoe 

 brigade for journeying overland, but they would be of 

 no use when sledging over the hard ice such as the 

 Franklin Search Expeditions met with. 



' 21 st. — Mr. Wootton returned this evening from 

 Cape Joseph Henry with his party in good health. He 

 brings us two ptarmigan for the invalids, who appear 

 to make no progress whatever towards recovery, and 

 evidently require a fresh meat diet. 



