282 THE CONQUEST OF THE NORTH POLE 



graphic work was excellently done, and added very much 

 to the value of his explorations. 



On 18th April 1892, Peary started on a trip round 

 Inglefield Gulf. The purpose of the journey was to 

 complete the necessary complement of dogs for the ice- 

 cap march, to purchase furs and materials for the equip- 

 ment, and as far as practicable map the shores of the 

 gulf. Peary was accompanied by his wife. He returned 

 on 24th April, having in the short space of one week 

 made a sledge-journey of some 250 miles. 



During the month of April most of the supplies for 

 the great journey over the ice-cap had been carried up to 

 the edge of the ice. On the last day of April, Dr. Cook, 

 Gibson, Astrup, and five Eskimo left Red Cliff with two 

 sledges and twelve dogs, dragging the last of the supplies. 

 Peary and Henson followed on the 3rd May with the 

 remaining eight dogs and a large dog-sledge. 



The three sledges used by Peary on this journey con- 

 sisted of two long, broad wooden runners curved at both 

 ends, with standards supporting light but strong cross- 

 bars. The largest sledge was 13 feet long and 2 feet 

 wide, with runners 4 inches wide, and standards 6 inches 

 high. It was composed entirely of wood, horn, and raw- 

 hide lashings. It weighed 48 lb., and carried easily a 

 load of 1000 lb. 



The second sledge was 11 feet long and 2 feet wide, 

 with 3-1-inch runners and 6-inch standards. It weighed 

 35 lb., and carried a load of 500 lb. 



The third sledge, made by Astrup, was 10 feet long 

 and 16 inches wide, with 3-inch runners and 2-inch 

 standards. It weighed 13 lb., and carried a load of 

 400 lb. 



The clothing consisted of a hooded deer-skin coat weigh- 

 ing 5£ lb., a hooded seal-skin coat weighing 2 A- lb., a 

 pair of dog-skin knee-trousers weighing S T \ lb., seal-skin 



