380 
APPENDIX NO. Y. 
heavy, the snow being so soft that we sometimes sank to our knees in 
water; yet we got along safely. A great number of seals were on the 
ice, and the west shore in sight. 
July 2.—Wo started at 0.30 A.M., and travelled fast toward Sunny 
Gorge. The places between the old hummocks were filled with water. 
The dogs were sometimes actually swimming, and the sledge floating. 
At 8 a.M. we halted, being very much exhausted; we gave the dogs 
half feed. After a short rest we started again at 1 P.M., and reached 
the belt at 2.30 p.m. This belt-ice was firm and solid, twenty paces 
wide and eighteen feet thick. We reached Sunny Gorge at 3.40 
P.M., where we encamped. 
July 3.—We started at 4.40 A.M., and travelled along the land-ice, 
which, in some places, is completely overflowed by water falling in 
cascades and torrents from the tops of the cliffs. It has already made 
trenches for itself in some places by cutting the land-ice completely 
through down to the gravel. 
When we passed Cape George Russell I saw the alcohol-keg sticking 
out of the land-ice, and tried to get it; but this was impossible. I then 
made a hole in it and tasted the contents, but found the alcohol much 
diluted by snow-water. The dogs' feet were considerably cut by the 
honey-combed ice. We camped near Chimney Rock at 11 A.M. 
We started again at 7 P.M. and crossed Marshall Bay, which was 
covered with water. Minturn River had made for itself a channel 
more than one hundred yards wide, over which we ferried ourselves, 
sledge, and dogs, on a large loose piece of ice. To the west of Mar¬ 
shall Bay a torrent of water came down every ravine, which obliged 
us to go off the ice-foot and on the floe around it. 
July 4.—At 7 A.M. we arrived at the brig, after an absence of 
thirty days. 
I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant, 
William Morton. 
