612 
LAST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS. 
their progress at the close of the day being scarcely perceptible; 
and frequently the work of the preceding day was rendered of 
little import, by the drifts of snow, which filled up the vacuum, 
and which imposed upon them the additional trouble of clearing 
it away, before they could recommence their labors. 
It was about the beginning of April, that the boats were got 
in a complete state of repair ; the sledges were completed, 
and preparations were now made for taking the boats down 
the country. The launch was cut out of the ice, and hove on shore 
on the 6th, and on the 7th the travelling things were all got 
in readiness. On the 19th, they siarted with the two boats on 
the sledges, took them about a mile, and then returned on board 
to dine; at two o’clock they started again, and succeeded 
in getting them over the lakes on the salt water, about three 
miles and a half from the ship; and in the evening, the men 
returned on board to sleep, intending to renew their journey 
early on the following morning. The weather, however, 
proved so very unpropitious, that they were obliged to defer 
their journey until Sunday the 22nd. On that day, the two 
parties took out the sledge and provisions; then took one of 
the boats and sledge about two miles on the salt water, and 
returned on board about 7 o'clock. 
On the 23rd at 9 A. m. the two parties consisting of fourteen, 
including Capt. Ross and Mr. Mc’Diarmid, left the ship, and 
got to the first boat on the salt water by 10, and got her 
up to the other boat and sledge by half past 11. An equal 
quantity of provisions was put in each boat, and the tents, 
cooking gear, and other things were put on the sledge. At 
12, they proceeded with one boat and sledge together, for 
about two miles, and then had to return with the boat, for the 
other sledge. The difficulty of getting the boats down the 
country, was far greater and more harassing than was at first 
expected, having frequently to be dragged over very heavy ice, 
* lakes, hills and vallies; in fact to take a look at the different 
places, which they had to cross over, it would scarcely have 
been thought possible that the task could have been accom¬ 
plished. A whole day has been frequently spent in getting one 
