OF THE POIAR SEA. 



97 



of the man who preceded the foremost dogs ; but, as the snow was 

 deep, we proceeded slowly on the surface of the river, which is 

 about three hundred and fifty yards wide, for the distance of six 

 miles, which we went to-day. Its alluvial banks and islands are 

 clothed with willows. At the place of our encampment we could 

 scarcely find sufficient pine branches to floor " the hut," as the 

 Orkney mon term the place where travellers rest. Its preparation, 

 however, consists only in clearing away the snow to the ground, and 

 covering that space with pine branches, over which the party spread 

 their blankets and coats, and sleep in warmth and comfort, by 

 keeping a good fire at their feet, without any other canopy than the 

 heaven, even though the thermometer should be far below zero. 



The arrival at the place of encampment gives immediate occupa- 

 tion to every one of the party ; and it is not until the sleeping- 

 place has been arranged, and a sufficiency of wood collected as fuel 

 for the night, that the fire is allowed to be kindled. The dogs alone 

 remain inactive during this busy scene, being kept harnessed to 

 their burdens until the men have leisure to unstow the sledges, and 

 hang upon the trees every species of provision out of the reach of 

 these rapacious animals. We had ample experience, before morning, 

 of the necessity of this precaution, as they contrived to steal a con- 

 siderable part of our stores, almost from underneath Hepburn's 

 head, notwithstanding their having been well fed at supper. 



This evening we found the mercury of our thermometer had sunk 

 into the bulb, and was frozen. It arose again into the tube on 

 being held to the fire, but quickly re-descended into the bulb on 

 being removed into the air ; we could not, therefore, ascertain by it 

 the temperature of the atmosphere, either then or during our j ourney . 



The weather was perfectly clear. 



January 19. — We arose this morning after the enjoyment of a 

 sound and comfortable repose, and recommenced our journey at 

 sun-rise, but made slow progress through the deep snow. The task 



o 



