210 DEPARTURE OF TRAVELLING PARTIES. fatigued as to render the assistance of a sledge necessary to bring him in. This day we commenced taking the snow off the upper deck. And now for a time I must leave all other subjects, for the all important one of travelling, preparations for which were now fully completed. Monday, the 4th of April, was the day fixed for the departure of the sledges, and all was hurry, bustle, and confusion to the last. At length the morning of Monday arrived, and at 5 A.M. a flag was hoisted on the summit of Dealy Island, and the ensigns displayed on board the ships. All the travelling officers sat down to a substantial breakfast, on board the "Resolute," in good health and high spirits. At seven the travelling parties were called away, and the effect of such a body of them, in their quaint dresses, distributed amongst the various sledges, was alike novel and impressive. The sledges, with banners displayed, were drawn up in two divisions, with their heads, or bows, pointing in the direction of their intended destination. A few minutes elapsed, whilst friends grasped each other's hands, and whispered their last messages, and then all were at their posts. The wind from E.N.E. was favourable for the western division under Lieut. Mecham, who with DEPARTURE OF TRAVELLING PARTIES. 211 his auxiliary sledge (in charge of Mr. Nares), made sail at 7.15, amidst the hearty cheers of those who witnessed their departure. Some minutes only elapsed, ere the northern division led by Captain Kellett left the ships, and although the cheers of the few remaining were not remarkable for their noise, each and all gave them a fervent "God speed and good success" in their long and perilous journeys. The following is the distribution of the various parties. I shall offer no apology for the brevity of the above table, as I intend, on some future occasion, putting the proceedings of the travellers in a complete tabular form.* This, of course, cannot be attempted, until the result of the various journeys is known. See Appendix. 212 CAPTAIN KELLETT RETURNS. For several days after the departure of the travellers, the wind blew a gale from the northward, with heavy snow-drift;-against which, we on board imagined, it would be impossible for them to make any progress, with heavily laden sledges. Monday, 11th. At 5 P.M. Captain Kellett returned with his auxiliary party, having parted company from the main body of travellers, at a ravine about midway between the two beaches. The Captain had, until this, been ignorant of the description of labour and exertion required for arctic travelling, which he candidly confessed surpassed everything in the form of hard work he had ever seen, though his experience in the navy embraces a period of upwards of twenty-five years, during which time he has seen much arduous service in every clime. Now the parties were gone, the few remaining on board were busily employed in clearing tanks of provisions; the lower deck was also cleaned, and other useful services, which it was in the power of the men to accomplish, were attended to. Friday, 15th. Mr. Richards (clerk in charge) left the ship with a party of seven men, to deposit a cask of provisions in the vicinity of the lake, at the head of Bridport Inlet, for any returning |