84 VOYAGE TO THE POLAK SEA. APRIL 



of Daly Peninsula. On the next march, when crossing 

 Lady Franklin Sound, after working continuously for 

 twenty-two hours they were forced through exhaustion 

 to encamp on the ice about two miles from Bellot 

 Island. Fortunately it remained stationary ; and the 

 party reached Discovery Bay on the following day, the 

 15th of August, where the ' Alert ' had arrived a few 

 days previously. 



The following is an account of Lieutenant Beau- 

 mont's sledge journey, with extracts from his official 

 reports. 



Accompanied by Dr. Coppinger and sixteen men, 

 dragging two sledges, he started from the ' Discovery ' 

 on the 6th of April for Floeberg Beach, intending to 

 make the ' Alert ' his base for the exploration of the 

 North Greenland coast. Lieutenant Beaumont re- 

 lates : 



' Although this journey does not form part of our 

 exploring campaign, it requires some brief notice in 

 consequence of its being our first experience in 

 sledging. 



' The party set out in good health and in excellent 

 spirits ; but the extreme cold minus 40 to minus 30 

 Fahr. making it difficult to sleep at night, together 

 with the unaccustomed food and hard work, soon told 

 upon some of the less trained men, and for the two 

 following days our progress was slow, considering the 

 nature of the roads. George Leggatt, ship's cook, was 

 the worst, and for half-a-day had to walk by the side 

 of the sledge ; but as there was nothing more serious 

 than over-exertion they soon began to recover their 

 strength. Leggatt's indisposition was chiefly due to 



