PEARY'S EXPEDITION (1894) 299 



piblockto, and bit many of the other dogs before he was 

 shot. On each of the next two days a distance of 15 miles 

 was covered. During the next three days a storm con- 

 fined them to their tent, and two dogs died from exposure. 



Another start was made, but only 7 miles were travelled. 

 Two more dogs died of piblockto, after biting nearly all 

 the other dogs. The dread disease had evidently gained 

 a firm foothold. 



On 10th April, Peary had reached a point 128 miles 

 from the Lodge. One man had frosted feet and must 

 return. Another had both heels and great toes frost- 

 bitten, and had daily attacks of bleeding from the nose. 

 The third man had not quite recovered from cramp. 

 Added to these troubles was the serious condition of 

 the dogs. Peary now saw that he could not possibly 

 carry out his plans. He might reach Independence Bay, 

 but this would consume all his pemmican, alcohol, and 

 other provisions, and destroy any chance of making 

 another attempt next spring. He therefore decided to 

 cache his pemmican and return to the Lodge, and make 

 another attempt during the following year. 



On the return journey a great many of the dogs died, 

 only twenty-five reaching the Lodge. Peary admits that 

 previous to this experience he believed that the Eskimo 

 dog was capable of enduring the most severe weather 

 possible on the ice-cap. It is also evident that the 

 members of the party suffered greatly from the extremely 

 low temperatures usually experienced during the month 

 of March. The serious outbreak of the dog-disease could 

 not have been foreseen. 



The party on their return to the Lodge were very much 

 exhausted, and it required about a fortnight to recover 

 from the strain and exposure. 



Soon afterward, Peary set out to explore and survey 

 Olriks Bay. He was accompanied by Mrs. Peary. He 



