OF THE POLAR SEA. 



407 



few minutes. The contents of its stomach were devoured upon 

 the spot, and the raw intestines, which were next attacked, were 

 pronounced by the most delicate amongst us to be excellent. A few 

 willows, whose tops were seen peeping through the snow in the bottom 

 of the valley, were quickly grubbed, the tents pitched, and supper 

 cooked, and devoured with avidity. This was the sixth day since we 

 had had a good meal. The tripe de roche, even where we got 

 enough, only serving to allay the pangs of hunger for a short time. 

 After supper, two of the hunters went in pursuit of the herd, but 

 could not get near them. 



We were detained all the next day by a strong southerly wind, 

 and were much incommoded in the tents by the drift snow. The 

 temperature was 20°. The average for the last ten days about 

 24°. 5. We restricted ourselves to one meal to-day as we were at 

 rest, and there was only meat remaining sufficient for the next day. 



The gale had not diminished on the 12th, and, as we were 

 fearful of its continuance for some time, we determined on going 

 forward ; our only doubt regarded the preservation of the canoe, 

 but the men promised to pay particular attention to it, and the 

 most careful persons were appointed to take it in charge. The snow 

 was two feet deep, and the ground much broken, which rendered 

 the march extremely painful. The whole party complained more of 

 faintness and weakness than they had ever done before ; their 

 strength seemed to have been impaired by the recent supply of 

 animal food. In the afternoon the wind abated, and the snow ceased ; 

 cheered with the change we proceeded forward at a quicker pace, 

 and encamped at six P.M., having come eleven miles. Our supper 

 consumed the last of our meat. 



We set out on the 13th, in thick hazy weather, and, after an hour's 

 march, had the extreme mortification to find ourselves on the 

 borders of a large lake, which we subsequently learned from the 

 Indians was named Contwoy-to, or Rum Lake ; neither of its extre- 



