OP THE POLAR SEA. 15 



inconvenience to us, from our being compelled to 

 issue them daily rations of provision from the 

 store. The virant of ammunition prevented us 

 from equipping and sending them to the woods to 

 hunt ; and although they are accustomed to sub- 

 sist themselves for a considerable part of the 

 year by fishing, or snaring the deer, without hav- 

 ing recourse to fire-arms, yet, on the present 

 occasion, they felt little inclined to do so, and 

 gave scope to their natural love of ease, as long 

 as our store-house seemed to be well stocked. 

 Nevertheless, as they were conscious of impair- 

 ing our future resources, they did not fail, oc- 

 casionally, to remind us that it was not their 

 fault, to express an ardent desire to go a hunting, 

 and to request a supply of ammunition, although 

 they knew that it was not in our power to give it. 

 The sunmier birds by this time had entirely 

 deserted us, leaving, for our winter companions, 

 the raven, cinereous crow, ptarmigan, and snow- 

 bird. The last of the water-fowl that quitted us 

 was a species of diver, of the same size with the 

 colymbus arcticus, but differing from it in the ar- 

 rangement of the white spots on its plumage, 

 and in having a yellowish white bill. This bird 

 was occasionally caught in our fishing nets. 



The thermometer during the month of October, 

 at Fort Enterprise, never rose above 37°, or fell 



