256 WELLINGTON STRAIT. Chap. XIII. 



the weather was clear, and that by our reckon- 

 ing we passed directly over the assigned posi- 

 tion of the two southern of the Clarence Islands, 

 yet we saw nothing of them. 



A day was devoted to securing a depot in a 

 huge mass of grounded ice, and in repairing and 

 drying equipment, or, to speak more correctly, 

 in getting rid of the ice which encumbered 

 our sleeping bags and gear : this we effected by 

 beating them well and exposing them to the 

 direct rays of the sun. Magnetic and other 

 observations gave me ample employment, the 

 only immediate result of which was my being 

 almost snow-blind for the two following days. 



On May 2nd we set off again briskly ; our 

 load being diminished to thirty days' provisions, 

 and the sledge sail set, we soon reached the 

 land, and travelled along it for Cape Sabine ; it 

 was very thick weather, and we were unable to 

 see any distance in consequence of the mist and 

 snowdrift. The following day was no better, 

 and the shore, which we dared not leave to 

 cross the bays, was extremely low. 



We soon discovered that we had strayed in- 

 land ; but, guided by the wind, continued our 

 course. Upon May 4th we descended into 

 Wellington Strait, and the weather being 

 tolerably clear, crossed over to the south-west 



