202 HOBSON'S PAETY STAET. Chap. XI. 



ice forms whenever it is calm, I prefer tlie safer, 

 althougli more laborious mode of sledging ; 

 accordingly to-day our dogs carried out two 

 sledge-loads of the provisions intended for the 

 use of our parties hereafter, 



22nd. — All the provisions have now been 

 carried out to the nearest island, which I shall 

 temporarily name Separation* as there our 

 spring parties will divide ; and a portion in- 

 tended for Hobson's party and my own has 

 been carried on to the next island 7 or 8 miles 

 further. Our travelling boat and a small re- 

 serve depot have been placed upon Pemmican 

 Rock, so already something has been done. 

 Animal life is very scarce ; a few seals, an 

 occasional gull, and three brown falcons, are the 

 only creatures we have seen for several days 

 past. Last evening at eight o'clock a very vivid 

 flash of lightning was observed ; its appearance 

 in these latitudes is very rare ; once only have I 

 seen it before — in September, 1850, 



25^A. — Saturday night. Furious gales from 

 N. and S.W., but our barrier of coast-ice re- 

 mains undiminished. This morning Hobson set 

 off upon a journey of fourteen or fifteen days' 

 duration, with seven men and fourteen dogs ; 



* Subsequently named after my excellent friend A. Arcedeckne, 

 Esq., commodore of the Eoyal London Yacht Club. 



