They reckoned that the journey would take forty days at the outside, and Johnson undertook to provide all that was necessary.
His first care was the sledge. It was of Greenland make, thirty-five inches wide and twenty-four feet long, made of long planks bent up back and front, and stretched in the form of a bow by strong ropes to give it elasticity. This sledge would run easily over hard ice, but in snowy weather a wooden framework was added, which lifted it a little above the ground. To make it glide along still more smoothly, the bottom was rubbed over, in Esquimaux style, with a mixture of sulphur and snow.
Six dogs were selected as steeds for this equipage—strong, hardy animals, in spite of their lean, skinny appearance, and able to drag 2,000 pounds weight without being over fatigued. The harness was in good condition, and altogether the sledge was a reliable affair.
For camping, a tent was provided, in the event of being unable to construct a snow hut; also a large Mackintosh sheet to spread over the snow, to prevent it from melting by contact with the body; several woolen blankets and buffalo skins, and the Halkett-boat.
The stores consisted of five cases of pemmican, weighing about 450 pounds; twelve gallons of spirits of wine, tea, and biscuit; together with a little "portable kitchen," and a quantity of wicks and tow; besides powder and shot, and two double-barreled guns. Each man, following Captain Parry's example, was provided with an india-rubber belt, in which tea, coffee, and water could be carried, and kept in a liquid state by the heat of the body, accelerated by the motion of walking.
Johnson bestowed special pains on the manufacture of the snow-shoes. These were fixed on wood, and strapped with leather. They served the purpose of skates, but, where the ground was very hard and slippery, deer moccasins were better, and each member of the party was therefore furnished with two pairs of both.
These important preparations occupied four whole days. Every morning Captain Hatteras reckoned his exact position, and found that the ice-fields had ceased moving. It was absolutely necessary to ascertain this for the sake of returning.
