OF THE POLAR SEA. 93 



se\'eral days a considerable thaw took place in 

 the heat of the sun, which laying bare some of 

 the lichens on the sides of the hills, produced a 

 consequent movement of the rein-deer to the north- 

 ward, and induced the Indians to beUeve that the 

 spring was already commencing. Many of them, 

 therefore, quitted the woods, and set their snares 

 on the barren grounds near Fort Enterprise. 

 Two or three days of cold weather, however, to- 

 wards the middle of the month, damped their 

 hopes, and they began to say that another moon 

 must elapse before the arrival of the wished-for 

 season. In the mean time their premature de- 

 parture from the woods, caused them to suffer 

 from the want of food, and we were in some de- 

 gree involved in their distress. We received no 

 supplies from the hunters, our nets produced but 

 very few fish, and the pounded meat which we 

 had intended to keep for summer use was nearly 

 expended. Our meals at this period were always 

 scanty, and we were occasionally restricted to 

 one in the day.' 



The Indian families about the house, consisting 

 principally of women and children, suffered most. 

 I had often requested them to move to Akaitcho's 

 lodge, where they were more certain of receiving 

 suppHes ; but as most of them were sick or in- 



