LAST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS. 
649 
time that the carpenter was thus employed, the crew were busy- 
in housing over the boats, and rendering them secure, until the 
following year, which was effected, by fastening them with their 
own anchors, and piling stones and other heavy articles over 
them, and then covering the whole with a layer of snow. 
It was on the 4th of October, that they took their departure 
from Batty Bay, having a distance of 36 miles to travel to Fury 
Beach : it being rendered greater, on account of having to go 
round two bights, where the travelling was attended with the 
greatest difficulty, on account of the hummocks of ice, which 
were so numerous, that it was like drawing the sledges through 
a labyrinth : and frequently the passage appeared to be so com¬ 
pletely blocked up, that the only way of making any progress 
was, by breaking through them, which would have occupied 
several days in the accomplishment. 
Previously to leaving Batty Bay, 2 lbs. 10 ozs. of biscuit 
were served out to each man, and this scanty allowance was to 
last them until their arrival at Fury Beach, however severe and 
tempestuous the weather might be, and however long they might 
be detained on their journey. They had not travelled more 
than two miles, before they were obliged to unload the sledges, 
in order to render them lighter, as the road was not passable for 
them, in the loaded state, in which they left Batty Bay. The 
things, that were taken out of the sledges, were left on the beach, 
with the ulterior view of fetching them from Fury Beach. During 
the time, that the sledges were unloading and repairing, the tents 
were pitched on shore, and the crew remained in them for the 
night. Early on the following morning they proceeded on their 
journey, leaving behind them two chests, containing instruments, 
documents, &c. one tent, and several other articles. On that 
day they advanced only 10 miles, and again pitched their tents, 
and the men, worn with fatigue and hunger, consumed their 
miserable allowance, with not a drop of any liquid to moisten 
it, except a lump of ice, which they put into their mouths to 
melt. On the fourth day, after leaving Batty Bay, they arrived 
at Fury Beach, and found that, in their absence, the foxes had 
taken possession of their house, but they immediately decamped 
28. 4 o 
