112 
THE FAITH. 
close to the shore, and, but for the fluctuations of the 
tides, would already be a practicable road. For the 
present, however, a gale of wind or a spring tide 
might easily drive the outer floes upon it, and thus 
destroy its integrity. 
The party appointed to establish this depot was 
furnished with a sledge, the admirable model of which 
I obtained through the British Admiralty. The only 
liberty that I ventured to take with this model— 
which had been previously tested by the adventurous 
journeys of McClintock in Lancaster Sound—was to 
lessen the height, and somewhat increase the breadth 
of the runner; both of which, I think, were improve¬ 
ments, giving increased strength, and preventing 
too deep a descent into the snow. I named her the 
“ Faith.” Her length was thirteen feet, and breadth 
four. She could readily carry fourteen hundred pounds 
of mixed stores. 
This noble old sledge, which is now endeared to me 
by every pleasant association, bore the brunt of the 
heaviest parties, and came back, after 
the descent of the coast, compara¬ 
tively sound. The men were at¬ 
tached to her in such a way as to 
make the line of draught or traction 
as near as possible in the axis of the 
weight. Each man had his own 
shoulder-belt, or “ rue-raddy,” as we 
used to call it, and his own track¬ 
line, which for want of horse-hair me «ue-««uu <. 
i 
