240 DR. WALKER'S SLEDGE JOURNEY. Chap. XIIL 



CHAPTEE XIIL 



Dr. Walker's sledge journey — Snow-blinduess attacks Young's 

 party — Departure of all sledge-parties — Equipment of sledge- 

 parties — Meet the same party of natives — Intelligence of the 

 second ship — My depot robbed — Part company from Hobson — 

 Matty Island — Deserted snow-huts — Native sledges — Land 

 on King William Land. 



Doctor Walker's zeal for travelling was not 

 to be restrained ; I therefore gladly availed 

 myself of his willingness to go with a party to 

 Cape Airey and bring back the depot of pro- 

 visions left there in August last. These trips 

 will delay our spring journeys for a few days. 



During my absence from the ' Fox ' the wea- 

 ther was often stormy, and temperature un- 

 usually low ; the mean for the month of February 

 .was — 36°, showing it to be one of the coldest 

 on record. When possible the men were allowed 

 to go out shooting, and obtained fifty or sixty 

 ptarmigan and a hare ; a few foxes were taken 

 in traps, and two reindeer were seen. 



Yesterday two bears came near the ship, but 

 were frightened away by the dogs. Hobson 

 shot three ptarmigan. To-day I rambled over 

 the hills, the weather being fine, and saw a hare. 



