Chap. X. FRANKLIN AND RICHARDSON'S JOURNEY. 385 



and he adds, (i previous to setting out, the whole 

 party ate the remains of their old sh'oes, and what- 

 ever scraps of leather they had, to strengthen their 

 stomachs for the fatigue of the day's journey." 



The 19th supplied them only with Iceland moss, 

 boiled for their supper, which, not being soaked, 

 proved too bitter to be taken in more than a few 

 spoonfuls ; no rock-tripe was to be found. On this 

 day one of the renewed canoes was broken, by the 

 fall of the person who had it in charge. For several 

 days after this their progress was slow, over a hilly 

 country, and the men became impatient, and so 

 indifferent, that the two who had the charge of the 

 only remaining canoe left it behind, urging an ex- 

 cuse that it had a fall, was completely broken, and 

 useless. They refused to return and bring it up, 

 broken as it was ; they refused to make any exer- 

 tion, and acted as if they had given up all hope of 

 preservation. 



On the 21st the men took it into their heads that 

 the party had lost their way, and a gloom was 

 spread over every countenance. Dr. Richardson 

 had suffered so much from cold, fatigue, and 

 hunger, as to be obliged to deposit his specimens 

 of plants and minerals, collected on the sea-coast, 

 being unable to carry them any farther. 



Things continued in this deplorable state till the 

 24th, when the killing of five small deer, out of a 

 large herd, re-animated the drooping spirits of the 



2 c 



