1876 STATE OF THE NORTHERN PARTY. 347 



on the leaders, John Kadmore and Thomas JollifFe. 

 Although these two men were the most vigorous of the 

 sledge crews, they were greatly enfeebled ; yet rather 

 than resign the post of honour as leaders, which entailed 

 the extra labour of treading down a pathway through 

 the snow, they journeyed along supporting each other 

 arm-in-arm, and by keeping the drag-rope taut afforded 

 a means of support for their more disabled companions 

 in the rear. 



The prevailing good-humour and dutiful submission 

 of one and all of these men to the severe labour de- 

 manded of them, their manful and determined struggle 

 along the roughest road imaginable, is far beyond all 

 praise. After seeing their condition there is no difficulty 

 in realizing the statement concerning Sir John Frank- 

 lin's men, as made by the Eskimo to Sir Leopold 

 M'Clintock, ' They fell down and died as they walked 

 along.' 



Early on the morning of the 12th the whole party 

 encamped on the shore at Cape Richardson ; exchang- 

 ing the dreary prospect of icy desolation afforded by 

 the confused disarray of ice hummocks, which had 

 so frequently bounded their view for nearly sixty days, 

 for the agreeable sight of the newly-sprouting but 

 sparse vegetation on the sides of the familiar and well- 

 known hills, now becoming partially cleared of snow. 

 Equally inspiriting was the change, from the intense 

 solitude of the inanimate pack, afforded by the frequent 

 sweet song of snow-buntings collected confidingly near 

 the tent, the sharp call of some knots which were 

 flying about in flocks of ten or a dozen, and the oc- 

 casional deep notes of some geese which had oppor- 



