404 ARCTIC VOYAGES. Chap. X. 



cumstance as a change of place, recommended by one as 

 being warmer and more comfortable, and refused by the 

 other from a dread of motion, frequently called forth fretful 

 expressions which were no sooner uttered than atoned for, 

 to be repeated perhaps in the course of a few minutes. The 

 same thing often occurred when we endeavoured to assist 

 each other in carrying wood to the fire ; none of us were 

 willing to receive assistance, although the task was dispro- 

 portioned to our strength. On one of these occasions Hep- 

 burn was so convinced of this waywardness that he exclaimed 

 ' Dear me, if we are spared to return to England, I wonder 

 if we shall recover our understandings.' " — pp. 465, 466. 



The supplies sent by Back set all to rights, but 

 not without the greatest caution against repletion. 

 On the 12th a note from Back, informing them of 

 his intention to proceed to Fort Providence, pre- 

 pared them all, without delay, to hasten thither; 

 but Dr. Richardson could get no farther than 

 about three miles, he being by much the weakest 

 of the party. Franklin says (to the honour of the 

 Indians), it was they " who prepared our encamp- 

 ment, cooked for us, and fed us as if we had been 

 children ; evincing humanity that would have done 

 honour to the most civilized people." 



Mr. Back's narrative is but a continuation of the 

 same kind of sufferings by famine and cold which 

 pursued his footsteps. For days he and his party 

 had nothing to eat ; even tripe de roche was rarely 

 obtained ; many days were passed in sorrow and in 

 suffering ere he had the good fortune to fall in with 



