Nov. 9, 1876] 



NATURE 



|r principally chlorine estimations, specific gravity estima- 

 tions by Buchanan's method, and microscopy of dust 

 strata ; the chlorine and specific gravity estimations, and 

 the microscopy of winter sea water ; examination of air 

 precipitates ; estimation of carbonic acid and watery 

 vapour in air ; some experiments on the brittleness of 

 iron at low temperatures. 



The vicinity of our winter quarters proved to be un- 

 favoured by game. On our first arrival a few ducks were 

 seen and five shot, and during the winter and spring three 

 hares were shot in the neighbourhood of the ship. This 

 completes our list up to the end of May. In March, a 

 wolf suddenly made his appearance, and the same day 

 the tracks of three musk-oxen or reindeer were seen wiihin 

 two miles of the ship, but they had evidently only paid 

 us a flying visit. In July six musk-oxen were shot, the 

 only ones seen in our neighbourhood. The travelling 

 parties were only slightly more fortunate in obtaining 

 game. In June a few ptarmigan, ducks, and geese were 

 shot and used by the sick. In July and August they 

 obtained a ration of fresh meat daily. In March and the 

 beginning of April about two dozen ptarmigan passed the 

 ship, tlying towards the north-west in pairs ; finding no 

 vegetation uncovered by snow in our neighbourhood, they 

 flew on seeking better feeding grounds ; they were nearly all 

 shot subsequently by the outlying parties near Cape Joseph 

 Henry. In the middle of May snow-buntings and knots 

 arrived. A number of the young of the latter were killed 

 in July, but no nests or eggs were found. Early in June 

 ducks and geese passed in small flocks of about a dozen, 

 flying towards the north-west, but owing to a heavy fall of 

 snow, lasting three days, which covered the land more 

 completely than at any other time during our stay, at 

 least half the number returned to the southward, not 

 pleased with their prospects so far north. Two dozen 

 small trout were caught during the autumn and summer 

 in lakes from which they could not possibly escape to the 

 sea. 



The total game list for the neighbourhood of the Alert's 

 winter quarters, is as follows : — 



On March i the sun returned after its long absence. 



The sledging season being now near at hand, I pre- 

 pared orders for Capt. Stephenson to employ the whole 

 force at his disposal in exploration of the neighbouring 

 shore and the north coast of Greenland, instead cf sending 

 a party to communicate with Smith's Sound, as I con- 

 sidered that a sledge party employed on that duty this 

 season would be peiformirg unnecessary work, and that 

 in the event of their Lordships communicating with 

 Littleton Island, and finding that I had not visited it, 

 they would understand that the expctiition was well placed 

 for exploration far north, and that all was going on satis- 

 f.ictorily. 



March 4 was the day fixed for the dog-sledge to start to 

 open communication with the Discovery, should the 

 weather be favourable, but the severe cold which we then 

 experienced prevented their starting. The temperature 

 remained unusually low until the 12th, when it rose to 

 - 35°, and the weather being fine and settled, Mr. 



George Le Clere Egerton, Sub- Lieutenant, started ii 

 charge of the dog-sledge, accompanied by Lieut. Wyat 

 Rawson, belonging to the Discovery, whom I wished ti 

 consult with Capt. .Stephenson concerning the exploratioi 

 of the Greenland coast, and Christian Petersen, inter 

 preter. As I knew that this journey was sure to entai 

 very severe labour, Frederick, the Esquimaux dog-drivei 

 not being a strong man, was left on board. Four day 

 afterwards, the temperature having risen considerably ii 

 the interval, with a strong wind from the southward, th 

 party returned in consequence of the severe illness c 

 Petersen. He was taken ill on the second march witl 

 cramp in the stomach ; and afterwards nothing could kec] 

 him warm. The tent being very cold, the two officer 

 burrowed out a snow hut, and succeeded in raising t' 

 temperature inside to + 7°, but the patient still r 

 mained in an unsatisfactory condition, and it was only b 

 depriving themselves of all their own warm clothing, ani 

 at the expense of the heat of their own bodies, that the 

 succeeded, after great persistence, in restoring the circu 

 lation in his extremities to some extent. The followin 

 day, Petersen being no better, they wisely determined t 

 return with him immediately to the ship. During thi 

 journey of sixteen miles, both Mr. Egerton and Litu 

 Rawson behaved most heroically, and, although fr( 

 quently very seriously frost-bitten themselves, succeede 

 in keeping life in the invalid until they arrived on boar( 

 He was badly frost-bitten in the feet, both of which ha 

 subsequently to be amputated. Notwithstanding the pr< 

 fessional ability and incessant watchful care of D: 

 Thomas Golan, he never recovered from the severe shoe 

 his system had received on this occasion, and eventual! 

 expired from exhaustion three months afterwards. H 

 leaves a wife and family living in Copenhagen, who 

 trust will receive a pension. 



On March 20, with fine weather and a temperatur 

 of 30° below zero, Mr. Egerton and Lieut. Rawsor 

 having partially recovered from their most praiseworth 

 exertions when attending Petersen, again started for th 

 Discovery, accompanied by two seamen, which they sue 

 ceeded in reaching on the sixth cay, after a very har 

 scramble over the rough ice in Robeson Channel, am 

 along the steep snow slopes formed at the foot c f th 

 precipitous coast cUffs. No water was met with beyoni 

 that formed in the tidal crack, close to the shore. Th 

 temperature throughout the journey ranged from - 

 42° to — 24°. During the latter part of March thi 

 sledge crews were fully employed preparing their provi 

 sions, and equipping the sledges for the spring journey: 

 Long walks were taken for exercise, and a depot of pre 

 visions was placed a few miles to the southward for thi 

 use of the Greenland division. 



On April 3 the seven sledges and crews, numberin] 

 fifty-three officers and men, started on their journeys will 

 as bright prospects before them as any former Arcti 

 travellers — everyone in apparently the best possibl 

 health, and, while knowing the severe labour and hard 

 ships they would have to undergo, all cheerlul, an( 

 determined to do their utmost. A finer body of picke 

 men than the crews of the three extended sledge piriie 

 was never previously collected together. 



Commander Albert H. Markham, seconded by Lieul 

 Alfred A. C. Parr, with two boats equipped for an absenc 

 of seventy days, was to force his way to the northwari 

 over the ice, starting off from the land near Cape Josepl 

 Henry. 



Three sledge crews, under the respective commands 

 Dr. Edward Moss, who in addition to his duties a 

 Medical Officer to the division, volunteered to assum 

 executive charge, and Mr. George White, Engineer, als 

 a volunteer, accompanied them as far as their provision 

 would allow. Lieut. Pelham Aldrich, assisted by a slcdg 

 crew under the commandof Lieut George A. Gitfard, was t 

 explore the shores of Grant Land towards the north an* 



