45
_____
Number of men to drag, 7 1408
_____
201 lbs. per man.

The officer's load consisted of a gun, powder and ball, telescope,
compass, and note-book; and as all the party, in anticipation of cold
weather, had to be heavily clad, it may be supposed that the total
weight to be dragged through snow and over rough ice was quite as much
as the stoutest physical powers were capable of. Several days previous
to departure we had travelled short journeys, in perfect marching
order, and sledges ladened,--an arrangement which was highly
beneficial; and from the way the sledges went over the floe, they gave
us high hopes of answering our expectations in the forthcoming march.

From head-quarters the following arrangement of sledges was made
public:--

Capt. Erasmus Ommanney was to cross Barrow's Strait to Cape Walker,
with the following sledges and officers under his orders: he there was
to use his own judgment as to the disposal of the force, it being
required, in the event of two routes showing themselves, viz., one to
the S.W., and the other W., that Lieut. Sherard Osborn was to be
ordered to take up the latter.

[Headnote: _GRAND SOUTHERN SEARCH._]

_CAPTAIN OMMANNEY'S COMMAND._

+-------------------+-----------+---------------------+-----------------+
| Long-party sledge |Reliance | _Domine dirige nos_ |Captain Ommancy, |
| | | |six men. |
+-------------------+-----------+---------------------+-----------------+
| Ditto ditto |True Blue | _Nil desperandum_ |Lieutenant |
| | | |Osborn, seven |
| |men. |
+-------------------+-----------+---------------------+-----------------+
| Supporting sledge |Succour | _Sequor juvare_ |Lieut. G. F. |
| | | |Mecham, six men. |
+-------------------+-----------+---------------------+-----------------+
| | | Gaze where some | |
| | | distant speck | |
| Ditto ditto |Enterprise | a sail implies, |Lieut. W. H. |
|