OF THE POLAR SEA. 159 
frozen, but some of the party suffered in spite of 
every precaution. We descried three red-deer 
on the banks of the river, and were about to send 
the best marksmen after them, when they espied 
the party, and ran away. A supply of meat 
would have been very seasonable, as the men’s 
provision had become scanty, and the dogs were 
without food, except a little burnt leather. Owing 
to the scarcity of wood, we had to walk until a 
late hour, before a good spot for an encampment 
could be found, and had then come only eleven 
miles. The night was miserably cold ; our tea 
froze in the tin pots before we coulddrink it, and 
even a mixture of spirits and water became 
quite thick by congelation; yet, after we lay 
_ down to rest, we felt no inconvenience, and 
heeded not the wolves, though they were howl- 
ing within view. 
The 29th was also very cold, until 
burst forth, when the travelling became 
The banks of the river are very scantily supplied 
with wood through the part we passed to-day. 
A long track on the south shore, called Holms 
Plains, is destitute of any thing like a tree, and 
the opposite bank has only stunted’ willows ; but, 
after walking sixteen miles, we came to a spot 
better wooded, and encamped opposite to a re- 
