1876 MUSK-OXEN SHOT. 73 



the ice outside the barrier of floebergs moved off for 

 about fifty yards. 



' As each floeberg must have been considerably 

 lightened by the summer's thaw, they are now liable 

 to be forced in nearer towards the land by the first 

 decided pressure. I am consequently rather anxious 

 about the ship ; however, the ice between her and the 

 land is so much decayed that I doubt its being able to 

 damage her much ; but if forced up on shore we shall 

 have heavy work with our few able-bodied men. 



' 23rd. The invalids are continuing their recovery, 

 but slowly : there are yet twenty men under the 

 doctor's care, ten of whom are more or less confined 

 to their beds one wholly so. While returning to the 

 ship yesterday, the rough gravel road over which we 

 were obliged to journey, between the ice-foot and the 

 cliffs, after first wearing out the steel runners, com- 

 pletely destroyed the sledge by the time we had arrived 

 within a quarter of a mile of the ship. 



6 A south-west gale is blowing, and has driven the 

 pack off shore for a distance of about a mile the 

 water-channel reaching to Cape Sheridan, whence a 

 crack extends two or three miles in the direction of 

 Cape Joseph Henry. There the ice is only now 

 breaking up, a day or two later than that to the east- 

 ward. 



4 Mr. Egerton returned this evening with the two 

 boats from Cape Belknap. He brings back 282 pounds 

 of beef, the remains of two musk-oxen shot by the 

 officers at Dumbell Lakes, and seventeen geese a very 

 acceptable supply, our former stock of fresh meat 

 having been all consumed. 



