1876 H&RKHAlfS RETURN JOURNEY. 383 



to get on the trail again. Floundered through some 

 deep snow-drifts, and passed some enormous hum- 

 mocks. 



' The height of one of the latter that we ascended 

 was estimated at over fifty feet — the pocket aneroid 

 determined its height to be a little over that measure- 

 ment. It appeared to be a floeberg, but was so dis- 

 guised by its thick covering of snow that we could 

 only form a conjecture. It was on one side nearly 

 precipitous, and was surrounded by a number of small 

 hummocks and broken floe-pieces. The temperature 

 is so high now that the men get terribly heated whilst 

 dragging, but during a halt, even for a short time, 

 they soon get thoroughly chilled. Distance made 

 good one mile. 



' 23rd.— The weather still continues dull and 

 cloudy, but not quite so thick and overcast as it has 

 been for the last few days. We can just discern a 

 portion of Cape Joseph Henry and Conical Hill looming 

 through the mist. The travelling to-day has been 

 fairly easy, although the snow has been very deep 

 in places. Collected for analysis some specimens 

 of discoloured ice from two separate hummocks, of 

 a yellowish and brown hue respectively. Distance 

 made good one mile and-three-quarters. 



« 24:th. — A bright sunny day enabled us to follow 

 our tracks with ease. The land is plainly visible. 

 We seem to have neared it considerably since we last 

 obtained a good glimpse of it. Several dark patches 

 on the hills give undoubted indications of returning 

 summer, whilst the sides of Joseph Henry are almost 

 destitute of snow. The fore part of the day we 



