on their
own provision.

The plan proposed in the southern division will give the best idea. The
supporting sledge "Success" was capable of feeding all the division for
five days, by which time we hoped to be at Cape Walker, and then have
sufficient to return back to the squadron, where it could again
replenish, and, returning to the same point at which we had separated
from it, form such a depot that each of the sledges in return would
find five days' provisions to carry them home. By this means six out of
the seven sledges in the southern search will be seen to reach a point
fifty miles from their original starting-point in perfect condition so
far as their provisions are concerned.

We will, for the sake of clearness, cause these six sledges to divide
into three divisions, of two each, viz., a long-party sledge and a
support: in each case the support can feed the long party for ten days,
and then, forming a depot of provisions equal to ten days more, have
sufficient left to reach back to Walker, and thence home. The long
party are now still complete, after receiving two supports, equal to
fifteen days, or 150 miles; and two depots stand in their rear, the one
for ten days, the other for five days. The long party now starts,
consuming its own provision (forming its own depots for the returning
march), advances for twenty days, and accomplishes 200 miles; which,
with that done whilst supported, makes in all a journey outward of
thirty-five days, or 350 miles from the ships. Of course, with an
increased number of supports, this distance and time may be carried on
as long as the strength of the men will endure, or the travelling
season admit of.

On the 12th of April, the day calm and cold, some 50 deg. below
freezing-point, a scene of bustle and merriment showed that the sledges
were mustering previous to being taken to the starting-point, under the
north-west bluff of Griffith's Island, to which they marched with due
military pomp in two columns, directed by our chiefs. Our sense of
decorum was constantly overthrown by the gambols of divers dogs, given
to us by Captain Penny, with small sledges attached to them, on which,
their food duly marked and weighed, with flags, mottoes, &c., in fact,
perfect fac-similes of our own, were racing about, entangling
themselves, howling for assistance, or else running between the men's
legs and capsizing them on the snow, amidst shouts of laughter, and sly
witticisms at the _ten