Mae. 1859. PREPARATION OF SLEDGE-PARTIES. 245 



two stewards, a cook, a carpenter, and a stoker. 

 My party, as well as Hobson's, will be provi- 

 sioned, including the depots, for an absence of 

 about eighty-four days ; but not being able to 

 afford auxiliary or supporting sledge parties, 

 much time will be occupied in transporting our 

 depots further out, in order that we may start 

 with as much as we can possibly carry, from 

 the Magnetic Pole, besides leaving there a depot 

 for our return. 



The declinometer was taken on board two 

 days ago ; hourly observations have been made 

 with it for more than five months : we can no 



longer spare any one for this interesting duty. 

 * * * * * 



24:th June. — One thing is certain, the wild sort 

 of tent-life we lead in Arctic exploration quite 

 unfits one for such tame work as writing up a 

 journal ; my present attempt will illustrate the 

 fact, — yet with such ample materials what a 

 deeply interesting volume might be written ! 

 Since I last opened this familiar old diary — the 

 repository alike of dry facts and the most trivial 

 notes — winter has passed away, summer is far 

 advanced, and the glorious sun is again return- 

 ing southward. We too have endeavoured to 

 move on with the times and seasons. 



As for myself — I have visited Montreal Island, 



