OF THE POLAR SEA. 



247 



neighbourhood being terminated for the season, by the deer having 

 retired to the southward to shelter themselves in the woods. 



The arrival of this large party was a serious inconvenience to us, 

 from our being compelled to issue them daily rations of provision 

 from the store. The want of ammunition prevented us from equip- 

 ping and sending them to the woods to hunt ; and although they are 

 accustomed to subsist themselves for a considerable part of the year 

 by fishing, or snaring the deer, without having recourse to fire-arms, 

 yet, on the present occasion, they felt little inclined to do so, and 

 gave scope to their natural love of ease, as long as our store-house 

 seemed to be well stocked. Nevertheless, as they were conscious 

 of impairing our future resources, they did not fail, occasionally, 

 to remind us that it was not their fault, to express an ardent 

 desire to go a hunting, and to request a supply of ammunition, 

 although they knew that it was not in our power to give it. 



The summer birds by this time had entirely deserted us, leaving, 

 for our winter companions, the raven, cinereous crow, ptarmigan, 

 and snow-bird. The last of the water-fowl that quitted us was a 

 species of diver, of the same size with the colymbm arcticus, but 

 differing from it in the arrangement of the white spots on its plumage, 

 and in having a yellowish white bill. This bird was occasionally 



caught in our fishing nets. 



The thermometer during the month of October, at Fort Enter- 

 prise, never rose above 37°, or fell below 5° ; the mean temperature 



for the month was 23°. 



In the beginning of October a party had been sent to the west- 

 ward to search for birch to make snow-shoe frames, and the Indian 

 women were afterwards employed in netting the shoes and pre- 

 paring leather for winter-clothing to the men. Robes of rein-deer 

 skins were also obtained from the Indians, and issued to the men 

 who were to travel, as they are not only a great deal lighter than 

 blankets, but also much warmer, and altogether better adapted for 

 a winter in this climate. They are, however, unfit for summer use, 



