OF THE POLAR SEA. 361 
one of these trees for firewood, but our guide 
solicited us to spare them, and made us under- 
stand by signs that they had been long service- 
able to his nation, and that we ought to content 
ourselves with a few of the smaller branches. As 
soon as we comprehended his request we com- 
plied with it, and our attendants having, with 
some trouble, grubbed up a sufficient quantity of 
the roots of the dwarf birch to make a fire, we 
were enabled to prepare a comfortable supper of 
rein-deer’s meat, which we despatched with the 
appetites travelling in this country never fails to 
ensure. We then stretched ourselves out on the 
pine brush, and covered by a single blanket, 
enjoyed a night of sound repose. The small 
quantity of bed-clothes we carried induced us to 
sleep without undressing. Old Keskarrah fol- 
lowed a different plan ; he stripped himself to the 
skin, and having toasted his body for a short time 
over the embers of the fire, he crept under his 
deer-skin and rags, previously spread out as 
smoothly as possible, and coiling himself up in a 
circular form, fell asleep instantly. This custom 
of undressing to the skin even when lying in the 
open air is common to all the Indian tribes. The 
thermometer at sunset stood at 29°. 
Resuming our journey next morning we pur- 
sued a northerly course, but had to make a con- 
