182 
VOYAGE FOR THE DISCOVERY 
cart, constructed for the purpose ; this method having been decided on as the 
most convenient for the country in which we were about to travel. 
Each officer and man was also furnished with a blanket made into a bag, 
with a drawing string at each end, a pair of spare shoes and stockings, a 
flannel shirt, and a cap to sleep in. The clothing and blankets were carried 
on our backs in knapsacks, those of the officers weighing from seventeen to 
twenty-four pounds each, and one between every two men weighing twenty- 
four pounds, to be carried for half a day alternately. Mr. Dealey, with a party 
of three men, was appointed to attend us for the first day’s journey, to assist 
in carrying our baggage, and then to return to the ships. It was my intention 
to proceed as directly north as possible, and if we came to the sea in that 
direction, to turn to the westward, making such a circuit in returning to 
Winter Harbour as might occupy from one to three weeks, according to cir- 
cumstances. It was proposed to travel entirely at night, if any part of the 
twenty-four hours could properly now be so called, when the sun was con- 
stantly above the horizon. This plan was considered to be advantageous, both 
for the sake of sleeping during the warmth of the day, and to avoid, as much 
as possible, the glare of the sun upon the snow while travelling. 
At five P.M., we left the ships, accompanied by a large party of officers 
and men from each, who were desirous of relieving us from the weight of our 
knapsacks for an hour or two ; and, having been cheered by the ships on our 
departure, we went round the head of the harbour, and ascended the north- 
east hill. This route was chosen on account of the ground being clear of 
snow, only on the ridges and higher parts of the land. Our companions left 
us at eight P.M., and we proceeded across a level plain almost entirely 
covered with snow, which, however, was so hard as to make the travelling 
very good ; and the cart was dragged along without difficulty. At eleven P.M., 
we came to three remarkable round hills, composed entirely of sand and 
masses of sandstone, and halted to dine close to the northward of them. 
Those parts of the land which were clear of snow, appeared to be more 
productive than those in the immediate neighbourhood of Winter Harbour, 
the dwarf-Avillow, sorrel, and poppy ( Papaver Nudicaule), being more abun- 
dant, and the moss more luxuriant ; we could not, however, collect a suffi- 
cient quantity of the slender wood of the Avillow in a dry state, for the pur- 
pose of dissolving snow for Avater, and Avere, therefore, obliged to use a part 
of the fuel Avhich we had provided for that purpose. The thermometer stood 
at 31° at midnight. 
