4^14 SECOND VOYAGE FOR THE DISCOVERY 



1823. ^},(; snow to wait for better weather ; thermometer 40°. Towards evening 



June. . . . "^ 



,-^.-v^ the snow ceased, and at six P.M. we again moved forward over a i)lain so 

 flat that I fancied it was a lake, until by accidentally breaking through the 

 deep crust of snow whicli covered it, wc saw moss and grass. At thirty 

 minutes after eight the weather again thickened, but before it did so we 

 were enabled to observe that the low land ran for several miles in a southerly 

 direction. The granite mountains at this part assumed a more rounded 

 form and were entirely covered with snow. Having travelled in the course 

 of this day above eight hours, S.S.E., we tented for the night on the snow. 

 A heavy g;tle witli thick snow and drift continued to render us very uncom- 

 fortable at a temperature of 25°. 



10. " This severe weather continued until five P.M. on the 10th, when the 

 snow ceased, but the sky was so cloudy, and the view so limited that we 

 remained completely in the dark as to our road. Determining however to 

 attempt to make some westing, we ascended some high and rounded hills in 

 nearly a west direction. Tlie recently fallen snow was so deep that the dogs 

 were buried to their bellies, and even our snow-shoes were but of little assist- 

 ance to us. A flock of seven ducks passed us flying to the south-west. After 

 two hours' extreme exertion we reached the summit of the smooth hills, and 

 thence saw a chain of mountains lying immediately across our path at about 

 three miles' distance. 



" Heavy snow and calm weather obliged us to tent on the hills, Avhich, on 

 clearing away the snow for a sleeping-place, we found to be covered Avith 

 shingle limestone on a bed of yellow marl. Thermometer, at ten P.M., 20°. 



^1- Heavy snow all night ; and on the 11th it still continued to fall thickly until 

 thirty minutes after three P.M., when clearing a little, I determined on 

 attempting to pass through a small opening in the mountains about W.S.W. 

 of us. The snow which had now fallen with but little intermission for two 

 days and nights was so deep, that we proceeded very slowly and with great 

 labour, and the mountains were as completely covered as in the middle of 

 winter. After two hours' toil in ascending a steep hill we arrived on what 

 Ave conceived Avas good table land, Avhen avc suddenly found ourselves on the 

 brink of a precipice, and a chain of mountains extending from north to S.E. 

 On st()pi)ing the sledge it sank so deep in a Avreath of snow that all our 

 eftbrts to move it were in vain ; the dogs Avere quite overcome, and avc Avere 

 quite at a stand. We therefore unloaded it and thrcAV aAvay about one hun- 

 dred weight of such things as could be spared, after which about half an 



