ACROSS ELLESMERE LAND. 



131 



attempt to get down here, and crossed a large drift of snow into a 

 fissure with perpendicular walls on both sides. The fissure became 

 deeper and deeper the farther we went, and at last we saw nothing 

 but a small strip of daylight above our heads. Suddenly it 

 became narrower than the breadth of a sledge, and all farther 

 progress west by that way was cut off. We were obliged to turn 

 and laboriously work our way back up to camp, where we had 

 dinner, and after that went off again reconnoitring, as it was far 



THE WESTERNMOST SANDS, WITH TOMMEN TO THE LEFT. 



better to find a practicable way before making a fresh start with 

 the sledges. 



We climbed up on to the plateau north of the valley. In a 

 lateral valley we came across a spot which was well sheltered from 

 the wind, and there we determined to move the camp. There was 

 not a trace of snow anywhere about, nothing but sand and lime- 

 stone ridges ; and as far as we could see in towards the west there 

 was the same snow-bare country. It looked as if we should want 

 a pair of boots a day ! As there was no question of our being able 

 to drag both the sledges with us, we loaded one of them with 



