350 VOYAGE TO THE POLAR SEA. April 



iii your rear. It is true that your men on the return 

 journey will be dragging diminished loads ; but towards 

 the end of the season the ice will probably be in 

 motion, and one of your chief enemies, the misty 

 weather, will be more continuous. Over stationary 

 ice, however rough, there is a choice of roads ; once it 

 is in motion, no choice is left. 



4 During your absence, should you, contrary to my 

 present expectations, experience a general break-up of 

 the ice, or, arriving at the edge of the firm ice, find 

 the outer pack broken up, you are to consider the 

 position you will then have attained as the limit of 

 your advance ; and, after making what observations 

 are practicable, you are to retreat to the ship.' 



Extracts from Commander Markharn's official 

 journal : — 



< 3rd. — Left the ship at 11 a.m. The western 

 division, under the command of Lieutenant Aldrich, in 

 company. The travelling by no means good ; snow 

 deep, and the sledges dragging very heavily. This 

 being our first march, and the men showing signs of 

 fatigue, a halt was called at 5.30, and the tents pitched 

 on the eastern side of the neck of land connecting 

 Mushroom Point with the main. Men in capital 

 spirits. Distance made good six miles. 



4 Ath. — Commenced the march at 7.30 a.m. Double- 

 banked all the sledges over the land, which fortunately 

 for us had a good covering of snow ; nevertheless, we 

 found it hard work with our heavy sledges ; the 

 travelling round and beyond Harley Spit excessively 

 heavy and laborious. Men getting tired, halted at 

 4.45, and camped. Everything frozen perfectly hard. 



