We constructed out of the Lapland snow-shoes fourteen sledges, each
sledge consisting of two pairs well fastened together. Upon these we
proposed dragging almost all the weight, so as to keep the boat nearly
without any cargo in her, as we found by experiment that a man could
drag about three hundred pounds on one of the sledges with more facility
than he could drag the boat when his proportion did not exceed one
hundred pounds. Upon these sledges we proposed lodging half our party
alternately each night, placing them under the lee of the boat, and then
stretching over them, as a sloped roof, a second awning, which we fitted
for the purpose. Upon this plan we likewise could afford to make our
boat considerably stronger, adding some stout iron knees to the supports
of her runners, and increasing our store of materials for repairing her.
The weight reduced by this arrangement would have been above two
thousand pounds, without taking away any article conducive to our
comfort, except the boat and her gear. I proposed to the officers and
men who had been selected to accompany me this change in our equipment;
and I need scarcely say that they all clearly saw the probable necessity
of it, and cheerfully acquiesced in its adoption, if requisite.
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