430 M'CLURE'S EXPLORATIONS. 



that the land teemed with deer and hares. "As there 

 appeared much game in the vicinity/ 7 writes Captain 

 M'Clure, "and the weather continued mild, shooting 

 parties were established in different directions between 

 the 9th and 23d of October ; so that, with what was 

 killed from the ship, our supply of fresh provisions at 

 the commencement of the winter consisted of nine deer, 

 fifty-three hares, and forty-four ptarmigan, all in fine 

 condition, the former having from two to three inches 

 of fat " 



blr. 



The herds of deer and troops of hares that congregated 

 on the broad plains of dwarf willow, reindeer-moss, and 

 coarse grasses in the interior, are described as perfectly 

 marvellous. Wolves and foxes also abounded, and, as 

 cold and darkness increased, the former, pressed by 

 hunger, used to haunt the ship to a disagreeable extent ; 

 and the sad prolonged howl of these gaunt creatures in 

 the long nights added, if possible, to the dismal char- 

 acter of the scene. Two ravens also established them- 

 selves as friends of the family in Mercy Bay, and used 

 to trick the ship's dog out of his meals by enticing him 

 away, flying a few yards at a time, he running at them 

 till they had got him some distance away, when they 

 would make a direct flight back, and have done good 

 execution before the mortified dog detected the imposi- 

 tion practised upon him, and rushed back again. 



" In consequence of our favored position," says 

 M'Clure, "the crew were enabled to ramble over the 

 hills almost daily in quest of game, and their exertions 

 happily supplied a fresh meal of venison three times a 

 fortnight, with the exception of about three weeks in 

 January, when it was too dark for shooting. The small 

 game, such as ptarmigan and hares, being scarce, were 

 allowed to be retained by the sportsmen as private 

 property. This healthy and exhilarating exercise kept 



