SLEDGIXG PARTIES. 107 



had commenced the whole party was attacked by the insidious disease, until at last Lieu- 

 tenant Beaumont and two others had to drag the other four, who were rendered absolutely 

 hors cle combat. The sledge, with its living burden, had always to make the journey twice, 

 and often thrice, over the same road, and that a rough and difficult route over broken 

 and hummocky ice. " Nevertheless/' says Captain Nares, " the gallant band struggled 

 manfully onwards, thankful if they made one mile a day, but never losing heart." A 

 relief party, consisting of Lieutenant Rawson and Dr. Coppinger, with Hans, an Esquimaux, 

 and a dog-sledge, went out in search of them, and met them providentially, just as even 

 the two hardiest of the men were giving in. Indeed, for part of the journey the hauling* 

 was performed entirely by the three officers. How thankful were they to at length reach a 

 pleasant haven Polaris Bay, the spot so intimately connected, as we shall hereafter see, with 

 the memory of poor Hall, the American explorer, and where Captain Stephenson, of the 

 Discovery, had a little while before performed a thoughtful and graceful act in erecting over 

 his grave a tablet and head-board ! At Polaris Bay most of the invalids soon recruited, 

 and some of this happy result was due to the fact that those able to get about were suc- 

 cessful in shooting game enough to furnish a daily ration of fresh meat. When they 

 eventually reached their vessel they had been absent 132 days, a long outing in the 

 Arctic regions. 



There were so many parties in the field at one time that we must confine ourselves 

 very much to results, as our narrative would otherwise be a series of repetitions. Lieutenant 

 Archer, of the Discovery, explored Lady Franklin Sound, proving that it terminates at a 

 distance of sixty-five miles from the mouth with lofty mountains and glacier-filled valleys ; 

 while Lieutenant Fulford and Dr. Coppinger examined Petermann Fiord, finding it terminate 

 in the precipitous cliff of a glacier. A seam of excellent coal, 250 yards long and over 

 eight yards thick, was found near the winter quarters of the Discovery. Lieutenant Aldrich, 

 of the Alert, made a detailed exploration of the northern shores of Grinnell Land for 220 

 miles, the main gist of his discoveries being that there was no appearance of land to its 

 northward ; and no doubt some will see in this another argument in favour of the " open " 

 Polar Sea theory, to which we have already alluded. When, on his return, he was met by 

 a relief party under Lieutenant May, only one of his men was able to drag with him at 

 the ropes. Four men were being carried, while two struggled on by the side of the sledge. 

 The scurvy here, as with all the parties, attacked the men, leaving the officers scatheless. 



The journey, however, which we are about to briefly describe, was the most interesting 

 of any undertaken on the expedition under review. Commander Markham and Lieutenant 

 Parr, pushing forward almost due north, over and among the stupendous masses of ice 

 which covered the Polar Sea, after many a weary struggle reached the highest latitude ever 

 attained viz., 83 20' 26" N. Parry has now to resign the place of honour which he had 

 held for close on half a century. 



This division was known as the " Northern," in contra-distinction to the " Western/' 

 the "Greenland," and others, and consisted of thirty-three officers and men, while an 

 additional sledge, with four men, accompanied them for a few days to form a depot of 

 provisions some distance from the ship for use on their return should they have run short. 

 Of the thirty-three engaged, it was not supposed that all would proceed to the furthest 



