NARES' EXPEDITION (1876) 137 



started for Repulse Harbour, Greenland. Robeson 

 Channel was crossed without much difficulty, but a great 

 mass of hummocks had to be cut through at the entrance 

 to Repulse Harbour. Here the provisions were redistri- 

 buted on three sledges, a cairn built, and a site selected 

 for the depot to be left for the return journey. 



They started northward on the 27th April, and as it had 

 been impressed upon Beaumont that it was necessary to 

 keep to the land so as to prevent leaving an impassable 

 barrier in the rear in the event of the ice breaking up, he 

 struggled on along steep snow-slopes where roads had to 

 be cut, rather than take to the comparatively level floes. 

 At Black Horn Cliffs, however, it was found impossible to 

 keep to the land ; they therefore took to the ice, but 

 again returned to the land a short distance beyond the 

 cliffs. On the 4th of May a depot was formed for the 

 return journey, and Coppinger left on this date. On 

 the 6th of May one of the crew complained of stiffness in 

 the legs, and next day when he was examined by Beau- 

 mont the latter suspected scurvy. On the 10th he 

 decided that Lieutenant Rawson, with his party, should 

 take this man back, and on arrival at Repulse Harbour 

 either cross over to the Alert or go on to Polaris Bay. 



On the 10th of May, Beaumont ascended Mount Wyatt, 

 2050 feet, from which he saw that the line of hummocks 

 stretched for 10 or 12 miles in the direction of Mount 

 Hooker, and then turned to the northward, and ran 

 straight for the west end of the distant land. All to the 

 eastward of this boundary was smooth and level, while to 

 the westward lay the Polar pack, with its floes and chains 

 of hummocks. 



A depot was left at Cape Bryant, and then Beaumont 

 made for Cape Fulford, which is the north extremity of 

 the line of cliffs on the west side of St. George's Fiord. 

 The road across the mouth of the Word was very good, 



