378 VOYAGE TO THE POLAR SKA. Mat 



the invalids joining in. All seemed happy, cheerful, 

 and contented. 



' 13th. — A fresh breeze from the north-west and 

 much snow-drift. Our outward-bound tracks nearly 

 obliterated. The invalids appear no better for their 

 long rest. Started with two sledges, leaving the tents 

 pitched and the sick inside, and commenced our inarch 

 to the southward. 



4 Having advanced the two sledges for some dis- 

 tance, they were unpacked and dragged back to camp 

 empty. The tents were then struck, and putting two 

 invalids on each of the small sledges, and one in the 

 boat on the large sledge, again advanced by short 

 stages, dragging the lighter ones single-banked, six 

 hands to each, the whole party returning to drag the 

 heavy one. As this will be our future mode of 

 travelling, no further reference will be made regarding 

 the details of our order of marching, unless .an altera- 

 tion occurs. Distance made good one mile and-a- 

 quarter. 



' lith. — A dull, cloudy day. Sky and ground, 

 from the equal diffusion of light, appear to be the 

 same ; and although dark objects are readily dis- 

 tinguishable at some distance, it is impossible to see 

 many yards ahead : this makes following the old road 

 a task of much difficulty. A hummock passed yester- 

 day, although composed of one piece of ice, was of 

 two different colours, a deep blue and a pale yellow, 

 the two colours gradually blending one into the other 

 without exhibiting any definite line of demarcation. 

 The yellow colour was doubtless due to the presence 

 of diatomacese. It is a curious fact that for the last 



