Chap. IX. PARRY'S POLAR VOYAGE. 289 



seen of the very rugged nature of the ice they would 

 first have to encounter, that " either the reindeer, 

 the snow-shoes, or the wheels, would prove of any 

 service for some time to come, I gave up the idea 

 of taking them. We however constructed out of 

 the snow-shoes four excellent sledges, for dragging 

 a part of our baggage over the ice; and these 

 proved of invaluable service to us, while the rest of 

 the things just mentioned would only have been an 

 incumbrance." 



What became of those interesting little creatures, 

 the eight reindeer, which were spoken of with a 

 kind of affectionate regard, while it was hinted, 

 that the painful necessity might arise of having 

 recourse to them as provision, is not stated. It 

 was soon evident, indeed, from the appearance 

 of the ice, that they could not be of the slightest 

 use, but a great incumbrance in the boats : of 

 their ultimate fate no mention is made in the 

 narrative. 



Lieutenant Crozier accompanied the boats as far 

 as Walden Island, where a deposit of provisions 

 was left ; and hence they proceeded to Little Table 

 Island to examine and re-secure the provisions that 

 had been left there for their return. The prospect 

 to the northward was favourable enough, only a small 

 quantity of loose ice being in sight ; the weather calm 

 and clear, with the sea as smooth as a mirror ; thus, 

 " we set off without delay, at half-past ten, taking 



u 



