I91I] ON SALTY SNOW 233 
geographical miles by 7 p.m., instead of 4I by 9 p.m. as 
heretofore. :sr 
Between two bergs we had to cross a ^ working ' 
crack several feet wide. We were much amused at the 
efforts of a young seal which was baa-ing loudly and 
trying to climb a huge mountain eight inches high ! 
We reached Dunlop Island at noon the next day, 
helped by the wind and sail. There was a strait about 
a quarter of a mile wide separating it from the mainland 
cape. This strait consisted of blue glassy ice covered in 
narrow belts by thin wettish salty snow. This next mile 
led to the worst language I think I heard on any sledge 
journey ! My journal states : ' The wind drove the whole 
1200 lbs. across the ice, while our combined efforts, almost 
bursting blood vessels, were needed to cross five yards of 
the thin snow. When we were on the snow — where you 
could grip — the sledge was on ice and needed no pulling. 
When we were on ice the sledge was on detestable sticky 
stuff and wouldn't budge. We had a merry time and 
cursed the glassy ice and its mate.' 
From Dunlop Island as far north as we could sec 
stretched an icy barrier, the furthest visible promontory of 
the piedmont being almost due north, though the maps 
of this coast showed a well-marked bend to the west. 
Unfortunately the wind changed in direction, and 
after it had nearly blown the sledge over I decided to 
' down sail ' and steer nearer the coast. 
We reached a spot where it was possible to climb up 
the ice. Here by the tide crack we pitched our tent. 
Gran and I climbed up 200 feet, crossing a few rather 
