180 
THE DEPARTURE. 
the very thin runners of our Esquimaux sledge cutting 
through the snow-crust. 
“The excessive refraction this evening, which en¬ 
tirely lifted up the northern coast as well as the ice¬ 
bergs, seems to give the promise of milder weather. 
In the hope that it may be so, I have fixed on to-morrow 
for the departure of the sledge, after very reluctantly 
dispensing with more than two hundred pounds of her 
cargo, besides the boat. The party think they can get 
along with it now. 
EXCESSIVE REFRACTION OF BERGS. 
“ March 20, Monday.—I saw the depot party off 
yesterday. They gave the usual three cheers, with 
three for myself. I gave them the whole of my bro¬ 
ther’s great wedding-cake and my last two bottles of 
Port, and they pulled the sledge they were harnessed 
to famously. But I was not satisfied. I could see it 
was hard work; and, besides, they were without the 
boat, or enough extra pemmican to make their deposit 
of importance. I followed them, therefore, and found 
that they encamped at 8 p. m. only five miles from the 
brig. 
