CONDUCT OF THE PARTY. 189 



as made sleep almost irresistible, though the con- 

 sequence might have been the upsetting of the 

 canoe." Some strong tea, however, dispelled it ; 

 and, on reaching the Fort, he found that the 

 boats had been four days before him. # 



The people, according to Mr. King's account, 

 had conducted themselves as well as those of 

 their station generally do, under similar circum- 

 stances, with the exception of two ; and they 

 were the less excusable, from the consideration 

 shown them, and the generous treatment they 

 had experienced from the Arctic Committee 

 in England. I therefore took this occasion to 

 assemble the whole of my party, and to inflict 

 a public and severe reprimand upon the offend- 

 ers. The binding nature of their agreements 

 was recapitulated, and a brief explanation 

 oiven of the system that would be observed 

 throughout the service. I endeavoured to 

 convince them that it was their true interest 

 to conduct themselves like good and honest 

 men; and I reminded them that they were 

 embarked in an enterprise which, whether suc- 

 cessful or not, would always receive the meed of 

 public approbation. After this admonition I intro- 

 duced Mr. M c Leod as an officer of the expe- 



* I had been kindly provided with various seeds, by Mr. 

 Lindley, the learned Secretary of the Horticultural Society, 

 some of which were left at each post. 



