340 HOBSON'S JOUKNEY. Chap. XVII. 



graphical miles of new coast-line wliicli we have 

 laid down. 



Hobson's report is a minute record of all 

 that occurred during his journey of seventy-four 

 days, and includes a list of all the relics brought 

 on board, or seen by him. He suffered very 

 severely in health : when only ten days out 

 from the ship, traces of scurvy appeared ; when 

 a month absent he walked lame ; towards the 

 latter end of the journey he was compelled to 

 allow himself to be dragged upon the sledge, 

 not being able to walk more than a few yards 

 at a time ; and on arriving at the ship on the 

 14th June, poor Hobson was unable to stand. 

 How strongly this bears upon the last sad 

 march of the lost crews ! And yet Hobson's 

 food throughout the whole journey was pemmi- 

 can of the very best quality, the most nutritious 

 description of food that we know of, and varied 

 occasionally by such game as. they were able to 

 shoot. In spite of this fresh-meat diet, scurvy 

 advanced with rapid strides. 



After leaving me at Cape Victoria, he says — 

 " No difficulty was experienced in crossing 

 James Ross Strait. The ice appeared to be of 

 but one year's growth ; and although it was in 

 many places much crushed up, we easily found 

 smooth leads through the lines of hummocks ; 



