614 
LAST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS. 
on the route, to the distance of about three miles, and then re- 
turned to the tents or snow houses to sleep, having during the 
day walked upwards of ten miles ; the thermometer at midnight 
being 22° below zero, or 54° below the freezing point. 
On Wednesday the 25th, all hands were turned out as usual 
at six, and after breakfast, proceeded with the boat to the land, 
and returned for the sledge; and after considerable labor got 
her to the place where the boat was, and then proceeded with 
the boat and sledge for about three miles. Here they were 
obliged to travel one mile with the boat, and then return for the 
sledge, and so on alternately for the distance of about 8 miles. 
Four hands were left to build the snow huts, the remainder 
were despatched to bring up the second boat, which was a mile 
astern. 
It was the belief of the whole crew, that a much longer time 
would have been occupied, in getting the boats down the 
country, if Commander Ross had not taken upon himself the 
management of the business. On the commencement of the 
travelling, Capt. Ross travelled with them, or rather he was 
dragged or carried ; but as to any assistance to the strength of 
the work, he might be compared to the kind hearted and con¬ 
siderate quaker, who, on seeing a pavior very hard at work, 
kindly offered to assist him, by giving the usual grunt, when¬ 
ever the rammer was driven upon the stones. It was the general 
belief, that if Capt. Ross and his nephew had been upon good 
terms with each other, which they never were for a month to¬ 
gether, Commander Ross would have worked equally to any man 
in the service ; nor would he have required the men to tow him 
home to the snow house, after they had been dragging a heavy 
load during the whole of the day The presence of Capt. Ross in¬ 
deed was not required at all, for he was rather a drawback upon, 
than a stimulus to the exertions of the men, and was looked upon 
more as a dead weight than an acquisition. To the men, he 
bore the character of the ass in the team, who, instead of lending 
his strength to the draught, considered that it would be far 
more comfortable for him to be dragged along by the horses, 
and thus rendered himself a positive nuisance, instead of a 
