1876 NORTHERN SLEDGE JOURNEY. 3C)9 



snow commenced falling heavily, continuing without 

 intermission the entire night and all to-day. So thick 

 is the weather that we are unable to make a move, as 

 we can scarcely see the length of two sledges ahead. 

 Surrounded as we are by hummocks, it would be folly 

 to attempt pushing on. Our patience is sorely tried, 

 enduring this idleness, especially when we consider 

 how little we have hitherto accomplished, and the 

 short period that now remains before we are compelled 

 to retrace our steps. The rest will do no harm to the 

 men. 



' May 1st. — A fine bright morning has ushered in 

 the month of May, to our no small pleasure. Latitude 

 83° 10' 30" K Invalids much the same. Hawkins 

 totally unfit for duty, and Shirley very weak and 

 faint. Porter's symptoms appear to be scorbutic. 

 After lunch arrived on a large level floe that afforded 

 us a good mile and-a-half travelling in the right direc- 

 tion ; the snow less deep on it than on other floes, 

 doubtless on account of its even surface, which pre- 

 vents the snow from collecting into drifts by the wind. 

 By nine o'clock we were enveloped in a thick fog. 

 Camped amongst hummocks, with apparently nothing 

 but hummocks ahead. Distance marched nine miles ; 

 made good two and-three-quarters. Temperature 

 minus 10°. 



'.2nd. — The invalids are not improving, and Ave 

 are inclined to believe that they are all attacked with 

 scurvy, although we have not been led to suppose that 

 there is any probability of our being so afflicted, and 

 are ignorant of the symptoms. 



' Our strength is rapidly decreasing. A fine day, 



VOL. I. B B 



