

342 VOYAGE TO THE POLAR SEA. Mat 



cup-coral. Frequently in the sides of the gully we 

 passed rock in situ, not covered by snow, and consisting 

 in some places of a calcareous slate ; in others of a 

 confused mass of clayey limestone in the form of 

 rectangular sticks one to two feet in length. 



8 Following the sinuosities of the valley, the travel- 

 ling was excellent, and the general direction S. by W. 

 In about three hours it led us by a gentle rise to an 

 elevated plateau covered with hard crusted snow. 

 Having traversed this plateau for about half a mile, 

 the floe of Newman Bay came into view for the 

 first time, appearing to be about two miles off. We 

 now found, right in the course which we had been 

 pursuing, a ravine leading down towards Newman Bay ; 

 and expecting to find in it better snow-travelling than 

 on the land on either side, we determined on following 

 it. At 7.45 a.m. of the 9th we camped in the ravine. 



4 At 9.30 p.m. we started and proceeded down the 

 ravine, which soon degenerates into a narrow tortuous 

 gully, whose precipitous sides of clay slate approach 

 so closely in places as only just to give passage to 

 the eight-man sledge. The bottom is, however, well 

 packed with snow-drift, and being sheltered from the 

 sun by vertical cliffs, probably remains a good road for 

 sledging until the spring is far advanced. This ravine, 

 from its commencement in the high plateau, slopes 

 rapidly to the southward, i.e. towards Newman's Bay. 

 We spent a great deal of time road-making along the 

 sides of snow-slopes, cutting down opposing snow-banks, 

 and with drag-ropes reversed, easing the sledges down 

 steep inclines. In one place w^e lowered the sledge down 

 a little snow-precipice sixteen feet deep. At 12.40 a.m. 



