CHARTER VE 
SLEDGE JOURNEY IN WINTER. 
On the 26th of July, 1899, eager for active service 
again, I started a fresh sledge journey with the in- 
tention of attempting to reach the coast land to the 
west of Robertson Bay. At 12 mid-day I started 
with Mr. Evans and both of the Lapps. I took 
provisions for thirty days, and twenty-nine dogs. We 
travelled among very heavy screwed ice. Large 
blocks heaped upon each other at times rendered our 
route almost impassable, and for some miles we had 
very rough travelling. A strong gale from the S.S.E. — 
started, and at 4 P.M. we pitched our tent in the worn - 
cave of an iceberg, and spent a very cold night there. 
In the early morning I scaled the berg and viewed the 
ice conditions to the southward. As these conditions 
appeared promising, I decided to send Mr. Evans 
back to Camp Ridley for the purpose of making Mr. 
Colbeck, Mr. Fougner, and Mr. Evans follow me up 
with more sledges and provisions. Mr. Evans took 
four dogs and a sledge and left for Camp Ridley. I 
started at once further south, accompanied by the two 
Lapps. We travelled all that night without pitching 
camp; the temperature was — 30. We passed over 
very rough ice and struggled hard between the ice- 
