6 IS 
L4ST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS. 
left their huts about 8, and took the boat and sledge for a short 
distance, and then advanced with them singly for about two 
miles; the difficulty of the labor was here considerably in¬ 
creased, on account of the tremendous drifts of snow, which had 
been thrown up by the gale of the preceding day, and which 
not being able to cut through, the men were frequently obliged 
to take a circuitous route, travelling up to their knees in snow, 
whilst some were employed in clearing it away before the 
sledge, to enable the men to drag it along. In spite, however, 
of these obstacles, the distance travelled this day, was about 
seven miles. On Saturday the 28th, the whole party set out at 
8, for the boat, that was astern, and got up to her by 10. By 4 
in the afternoon, they had succeeded in getting her up to the 
other boat; but the violent gales from the north again set in, 
accompanied with heavy drifts of snow, which instilled some fear 
into them, that they should have to pass another miserable 
day in their snow houses. On the following day, the wind con¬ 
tinued to blow with great violence, and the men therefore 
determined to return to the ship. One of the boats was left on 
the land, and the other on the ice; and in the afternoon of 
Sunday, they set out on their return, and reached the huts, which 
they had formerly inhabited, by j- past 4. They had now only 
the sledge with them, the burthen on which being very light, 
they were enabled to travel at a quicker rate : and about 11, on 
the following day, they arrived at the ship, having walked 
about 12. miles. Having partaken of some refreshment, the 
whole of the travelling party turned into their hammocks, and 
sound indeed was their sleep: for, during the whole of the pre¬ 
vious week, they had scarcely known one hour of comfortable 
Tepose, being obliged to be huddled together, in a corner of a 
snow hut; their only bed, the snow, which had just fallen from 
the heavens. 
During the time that these men were absent from the ship, 
those that remained on board, had been employed in baking 
biscuit, and cooking other provisions, to be in readiness for the 
final departure of the crew from the vessel. The beginning of 
May was chiefly occupied in getting the provisions out of the 
