314 EXPEDITIONS OF PARRY AND ROSS~1827-S^. 



home at least, and that was something ; it had been once the home of all 

 of us. . . . The first measure which I adopted was to send them all to 

 rest for the night, . . . and after this we proceeded to take a survey of 

 the stores. Being scattered in every direction, it was, however, difficult to 

 prevent the half-starved men from getting access to them ; " and the conse- 

 quence was, that a number of them devoured whatever they found so vora- 

 ciously that they were seriously ill for several days afterwards. 



After the men had had a rest, they were told off into parties and set to 

 then* several tasks. The first thing to be done was to construct a house. 

 It was planned at thirty-one by sixteen feet and seven feet in height, and by 

 evening the frame of it was already in situ ; and in celebration of this event 

 the explorers concluded the day with a luxurious supper from the still 

 abundant stores of the Fury. The house, which was divided into two rooms 

 — one for the men and another containing four small cabins for the officers — 

 was named Somerset House. We have already seen what a genius Eoss 

 had for conferring appropriate names. The next matter that engaged Eoss's 

 attention was the repair of the " Fury's " boats ; those of the " Victory " left 

 behind at Elizabeth Harbour had not been brought up to Fury Beach. On 

 the 31st July the boats were ready, and every preparation for launching 

 upon the open water, as soon as open water should present itself, was 

 complete. 



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