The Princeton union., 1881-02-17

fguration of land!
But the better to understand this, let
us try and picture q scene as it actually
occurred. Upon the solid ice there, you
might have seen congregation Of what
look like human beings. Sledges and
Esuuimaux dogs are with them. Officers
as well as sailors, numbering about 100,
are dressed in uncouth garbs that make
them look anything but civilized men.
Furs are worn by those who can get
them, and woolens lined with fur by
others. Also masks for the nose, and
goggles for preserving the eyes. It is
very cold, and every protection is need
ed to prevent frost-bite. No one is left
by himself. Companionship is abso-
lutely necessary, in order that the one
may keep a lookout upon the others
face; as, when frost attacks the nose and
other exposed parts of the face, it is at
first unfelt by the sufferer himself. His
companion. as soon as he sees symp-
toms of this, takes up a handful of snow,
and rubs the affected part hard for a few
moments, and thus prevents any spread
of the mischief.
While this is going on in one place,
others are busy trying to keep the dogs
in order. These restive creatures, har-
messed to the sledges, get entangled
with each other, or every now and then
run in between the mems legs. Pres
emily, however, all the party have ar
rived at the place appointed. There,
the chief of the entire expedition care
fully examines their several equipments,
and addresses them in appropriate terms,
pointing out what each has to do. The
several sledges are named, and have
flags with certain notices selected by
the officers attached to them. Many Of
those notices bear upon the subject of
the search, and several of the flags are
cherished on account Of the fair hands
at home-some sister, Or some one still
dearer-who lovingly made them. Every
sledge has All officer, and from six to
eight men. All the officers desire to 60;
but the post of honor is given first to
the highest-even to the Captains of
ships-then to the humblest in turn.
And now all have received their orders,
and been addressed as to their respective
duties; and, after a few kind and some
times tender partings between old COM
rades, the hardy explorers buckle to
their work, and shortly separate, each
band on its way to traverse hundreds of
miles of frozen ocean or of bleak, in
hospitable coast.
Away they go! Over miles and miles
of dreary wastes. Prying and seeking
and examining wherever aught presents
itself that would seem to have been
placed there by others than themselves.
Weary, footsore, snow-blind, lame, weak,
strong again, often frozen nearly stiff,
and battling with wind and sleet and icy
particles that cut the face as though
with keen razor. Still they trudge on,
through barren and hitherto unknown
places. Occasionally they break out
into song, and thus rouse themselves
again, and perforce renew their Tagging
strength.
The sledge, when loaded with pro
visions, tents, spare clothing, instru
ments, firearms, and spirits Of wine fo1
fuel, generally weighs 1, 200 pounds, o.
say 100 pounds per man. This weight
then, the men have to pull along ovel
the ice, smooth or rough, and oftene1
among thrown-up ridges, as best they
can. A belt round each man is then at
| tached to the sledge, and thus should il
happen, as is sometimes the case, tina
one of the party falls through broker
bit Of ice, he is speedily pulled ou
again. In such cases some rapid exer
else is necessary to prevent the serious
consequences that might otherwise en-
sue.
When dinner hour arrives, the part,
! halts for short time to eat the allow
ance previously made up for each per
son. Then they drink their small quan
tum of grog, proceeding which is usu
ally accomplished while running up an'
down the ice to keep up the circulatio,
and escape being frost-bitten. The porl
which has been cooked on board is al
most always so hard that it breaks ik
biscuit, and the drinking utensils ar
usually covered with q mono conducting
substance to prevent the cold from TAX
ing the skin off the lips.
But night is the worst part of tn
time-that is, the sleeping period; 70
we should mention that sometimes tn
party travels by night and sleeps b
day, on account Of the greater advant
age from the absence of glare, etc
When the days march of perhaps te
miles is ended, the tent is pitched on a
comfortable bit of ice as can be found
This tent is generally fourteen feet Ion
by eight feet broad and eight feet high
There is flap at the bottom, made t
pull outward and be covered with snow
The door is made of double curtains ik
a porch, to keep out the snow-drift, an
afford shelter to the cook or lookou
man. Generally, the tent has four sma
holes in the top to perm
the escape of steam and breath
which otherwise condenses and fall
in shower Of fine snow. The ter
is so pitched as to have the door on til
opposite side of the prevailing vino
The cooking apparatus is just with
the porch. When the tent is put u
and made secure a waterproof foorclot
is laid upon the ice, and upon this
placed another of canvas. The who
party, officers and all, then make then
selves as comfortable as they can togetl
er. The provisions are served out, ant
dofing their fur boots, they wrap the
benumbed feet in moccasins or flannel
J and, without undressing, get into bag
/ made of stout blankets and about seve
| feet long, so as to cover head and al