34 ACCOUNT OF THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 



apt to fall short of provision for tliem, they cannot 

 place absolute dependance on their continued help. 

 AVithout the use of dogs, a strong experienced tra- 

 veller can perform, on an average, about twenty 

 miles a-day, dragging after him 100 to 150 pounds 

 weight of articles upon his sledge. When the sur- 

 face of the snow is frozen and firm, he can occasion- 

 ally accomplish forty miles in a day, but this re- 

 quires an effort too laborious to be continued for 

 many days together. The best opportunity for 

 passing these almost desert countries, is when the 

 ground is covered with snow ; the best time of 

 the year, perhaps in the spring months ; and the 

 most favourable hour, from one or two in the 

 morning until sun-rise. After sun-rise, the surface 

 of the snow is apt to become soft, on which the 

 fin-ther progress of the traveller is suspended ; he 

 then rests until the evening, or until the following 

 morning, when the snow having become encrusted 

 with ice, he advances with ease and celerity. If 

 he finds himself much pinched with cold when he 

 rests, he sets out and walks until the proper heat 

 of his body is restored, then refreshing himself with 

 a little nourishment, composes himself to sleep. He 

 must bivouac on the snow. Here, without shelter 

 from hut or tent, he rests, if not as comfortably, at 

 least as contentedly, as those accustomed to more re- 

 finement can, in their well-arranged couches. He 

 usually hollows out a place in the snow to sleep in, and 



