224 EXCESSIVE COLD. 



table as near the fire as I could bear the heat ; 

 but a scratchy mark, and small shining particles 

 at the point of the sable, convinced me that 

 it was useless. The sextant cases, and boxes of 

 seasoned wood, principally fir, all split. Nor 

 was the sensation particularly agreeable to our 

 persons ; the skin of the hands especially became 

 dry, cracked, and opened into unsightly and 

 smarting gashes, which we were obliged to anoint 

 with grease. One one occasion, after washing 

 my face within three feet of the fire, my hair 

 was actually clotted with ice, before I had time 

 to dry it. From these facts some idea may, 

 perhaps, be formed of the excessive cold. It 

 seemed to have driven all living things from us : 

 we had been accustomed to see a few white 

 partridges about ; but even these, hardy as they 

 are, had disappeared. Once, indeed, a solitary 

 raven, whose croak made me run out to look at 

 him, swept round the house, but immediately 

 winged his flight to the westward. Nothing but 

 the passing wind broke the awful solitude of this 

 barren and desolate spot. 



February 9th. — A little variation was given 

 to our society by the gratifying arrival of Mr. 

 M c Leod, who had preceded a party of men laden 

 with meat. The weather had made a visible 

 alteration in his countenance, which was severely 

 frost-bitten in seven places ; nor was it to be 



