280 THE CONQUEST OF THE NORTH POLE 



days. The object of the journey was to obtain birds 

 from the loomeries, to make plans of Eskimo houses and 

 villages, to communicate with the natives and obtain 

 from them furs and clothing. They Avere also to try 

 and induce a family of natives to settle near Red Cliff 

 House. 



They returned on 18th August with 130 guillemots, 

 and also brought an Eskimo family, consisting of a man, 

 his wife, and two children, with a kayak and harpoon, a 

 sledge and a dog. They had shot a small walrus near 

 Herbert Island, and had towed it to Cape Cleveland, 

 a little over 2 miles from the house. Several other 

 walruses were obtained before the end of the month. 



On the 4th September the entire party, with the 

 exception of Henson, set out for the head of McCormick 

 Bay with supplies intended for a depot to be established 

 on the Inland Ice in the neighbourhood of the Humboldt 

 Glacier. 



On the 5th September, Astrup went up the slopes to 

 the ice-cap to select the best route for carrying up the 

 provisions. He returned with a favourable report, and 

 estimated the distance to the ice-cap at less than 4 miles. 



On the 6th September, Astrup, Gibson, VerhoefF, and 

 Cook started up the bluffs with loads varying from 52 to 

 58 lb., and towards night on the same day they carried 

 up a second load. On the 7th the last loads were taken 

 up, and Astrup, Gibson, and Verhoeff, who were to form 

 the Inland Ice party, remained at the ice-cap, while the 

 others returned to Red Cliff House. 



This Inland Ice party returned to Red Cliff on 12th 

 September, and reported that the attempt to establish a 

 depot had been a failure. Owing to the presence of deep 

 soft snow, it was found that not more than one sledge could 

 be dragged at a time, and on the 8th September the party 

 advanced only 1 mile. On the 9th they were kept in 



