206 ' 
VOYAGE FOR THE DISCOVERY 
1820. 
June. 
CHAPTER IX. 
OCCURRENCES AT WINTER HARBOUR IN THE EARLY PART OF JUNE 
GRADUAL DISSOLUTION OF THE ICE UPON THE SEA, AND OF THE SNOW 
UPON THE LAND — HUNTING PARTIES SENT OUT TO PROCURE GAME — 
DECEASE AND BURIAL OF WILLIAM SCOTT — EQUIPMENT OF THE SHIPS 
COMPLETED TEMPERATE WEATHER DURING THE MONTH OF JULY 
BREAKING UP OF THE ICE NEAR THE SHIPS — MOVE TO THE LOWER 
PART OF THE HARBOUR — SEPARATION OF THE ICE AT THE ENTRANCE 
PREPARE TO SAIL ABSTRACT OF OBSERVATIONS MADE IN WINTER 
HARBOUR. 
I HAD the happiness to find, on my return, that the officers and men in 
both ships continued to enjoy the same good health as before, with the 
exception of Scott, who was still the only man in the Hecla’s sick-list, 
and whose complaint seemed such as to baffle every attempt that had been 
made to produce an amendment. A constant disposition to fainting and 
a languid sort of despondency had been, for some time past, the only 
symptoms which induced Mr. Edwards to continue the anti-scorbutic treat, 
ment, and this it was sometimes absolutely necessary to discontinue for a 
day or two together, on account of the weak state of his bowels. During 
my absence he had been much worse than before, notwithstanding the 
greatest care and attention paid to him, but he was now once more better. 
He had lived almost entirely on the ptarmigan and ducks, of which a suf- 
ficient quantity had been procured to serve the sick and convalescent in 
both ships abundantly, and none had at this time been issued to any other 
officer or man in the expedition. 
The equipment of the ships had gone on satisfactorily during my absence, 
the Griper being nearly ready for sea, the Hecla not quite so forward, on ac- 
count of the heavy work with the ballast, of which sixty-five tons had been 
brought on board to supply the deficiency of weight in her holds. The 
survey of the provisions, fuel, and other stores was completed, and the 
