1876 NORTHERN SLEDGE JOURNEY. 351 



To use Admiral Bichards' simile, our sleeping-bags 

 resembled sheet-iron, whilst the currie paste, as our 

 cook observed, was exactly like a piece of brass, and 

 was equally hard. We were all hungry enough to eat 

 our full allowance of pemmican at supper, and enjoyed 

 it. Distance marched ten miles ; made good six 

 miles. Temperature minus 35°. 



' hth. — Although the temperature inside our tent last 

 night was minus 25°, we all slept a little more com- 

 fortably, or rather a little less uncomfortably, though 

 deprived of all feeling in our feet. Travelling much 

 the same as yesterday, therefore compelled to advance 

 in the same manner — that is, sledges double-banked. 

 The men appear a little stiff, and complain of having 

 suffered a good deal last night from pain in their limbs, 

 and are to-day suffering from great thirst. 



' A wolf's track, seen each day since we left the 

 ship, has been the only vestige of animal life observed. 

 Encamped on the floe a short distance from Simmon's 

 Island. The travelling has not improved, and the 

 temperature has been as low as minus 45°. Everything 

 very cold and uncomfortable. Distance marched 

 twelve miles ; made good four miles. 



1 6 th.— Another cold sleepless night over. A 

 beautifully sunny day, but with a temperature at 35° 

 below zero. Everything frozen stiff and hard. Dress- 

 ing by no means an easy operation. Sledges double- 

 banked as before. Progression slow. Eeached a 

 stream of young ice extending to Depot Point, the 

 travelling on which being good, enabled us to single- 

 bank the crews, and to arrive at Depot Point at 5.30 ; 

 off which we camped on the floe. 



