OF THE POLAR SEA. 63 



ately about the face and ears. I escaped, from 

 having the good fortune to possess a pair of gloves 

 made of rabbits'-skin, with which I kept constantly 

 chafing the places which began to be affected. 

 At six P.M. we arrived at the fishing-huts near 

 Stony Island, and remained there the night. 

 The Canadians were not a little surprised at 

 seeing us whom they had already given up for 

 lost — nor less so at the manner by which we 

 had come — for they all affirmed, that the lake 

 near them was quite free from ice the day 

 before. 



" December 10. — At an early hour we quitted the 

 huts, lashed on sledges as before, with some little 

 addition to our party ; and at three hours thirty 

 minutes P.M. arrived at the North- West Fort on 

 Moose-Deer Island, where I was received by Mr. 

 Smith, with whom I had been acquainted at the 

 Athabasca. He said he partly expected me. 

 The same evening I visited Messrs. M' Vicar and 

 M'Aulay at Hudson's Bay Fort, when I found 

 the reports concerning our goods were but too 

 true, there being in reaUty but five packages for 

 us. I also was informed that two Esquimaux, 

 Augustus the chief, and Junius his servant, who 

 had been sent from Fort Churchill by Governor 

 Williams, to serve in the capacity of interpreters 

 to the Expedition, were at the Fort. The men 



