ITALIAN EXPEDITION (1900) 269 



about 83° 50'. The drift to the south must therefore 

 have been considerable. 



On 31st March the second detachment, composed of 

 Dr. Cavalli, Cardenti, and Savoie, was sent back. It re- 

 ceived rations for eighteen days, and had twenty-four dogs. 

 Considerable difficulties were met with on the return 

 journey, but the detachment reached the coast of the 

 island on the 17th April. Here a broad channel of water 

 prevented them from reaching land. A kayak was re- 

 paired, and Cardenti was sent in it across the channel. 

 He reached the glacier face, but it took him two hours to 

 ascend to the top by making steps with his ice-axe in a 

 crevasse. He then was unable to find his way to the tent 

 in Teplitz Bay. After wandering about on the island 

 all night, he saw the tent when daylight dawned. A 

 boat was at once dispatched to bring the doctor and his 

 companion. 



Meanwhile the party in Teplitz Bay had been anxiously 

 awaiting the arrival of the first detachment. When the 

 second arrived and reported that the first had left seven 

 days before them, all hope was practically given up, 

 although a relief party was sent out to make a search in 

 the neighbourhood of the islands discovered by Nansen. 



Cagni and his three companions set out after the 

 departure of the second detachment. They had forty-nine 

 dogs and six sledges. The load on each sledge varied 

 from 440 to 485 lb. On the first day they made a 

 splendid march of about 18 miles. With the be- 

 ginning of April the temperature rose, and life became 

 less miserable, but the higher temperature was accom- 

 panied by a strong wind. On the 3rd and 4th April this 

 high wind and snow-drift confined the party to their tent. 

 They set out again on the 5th, but found great move- 

 ment going on in the ice. Channels were constantly 

 opening and closing, and pressure-ridges were being 



