210 ADVANCED DEPOTS. Chap. XI. 



single night formed ice sufficiently strong to 

 bear them in safety to the land, although it bent 

 fearfully beneath their weight. 



The dep6ts were eventually established in 

 latitude 71°; beyond this Lieutenant Hobson 

 did not attempt to advance, not only because 

 their remaining provisions would not have war- 

 ranted a longer absence, but because the open 

 sea was seen to beat against the next headland. 

 They have lived in tents only, and have not 

 experienced the heavy gales so frequent here, 

 and which are probably due mainly to our posi- 

 tion in Bellot Strait, which performs the part 

 of a funnel for both winds and tides between the 

 two seas. 



That the western sea should still remain open 

 argues a vast space southward for the escape of 

 the ice, and prevents our western party from 

 carrying across their depot : the attempt to do 

 so would be extremely hazardous. We must only 

 be stirring earlier in the spring. I am truly 

 thankful for the safe return of our travellers, — 

 all this toil and exposure of ten persons and ten 

 dogs has only advanced the depots 30 miles 

 further — i. e. from 60 to 90 miles distant from 

 the ship. 



Hardly a particle of snow remains upon the 

 harbour-ice, the recent gales having swept it 



