SOS JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



persuaded ourselves that these pests could not 

 sustain the cold in the vicinity of the sea, but it 

 appears they haunt every part of this country in 

 defiance of climate. Mr. Back made an excursion 

 to a lull at seven or eight miles' distance, and 

 from its summit he perceived the ice close to the 

 shore as far as his view extended. 



On the morning of the 29th the party attended 

 divine service. About noon the ice appearing 

 less compact, we embarked to change our situa- 

 tion, having consumed all the fuel within our 

 reach. The wind came off the land just as the 

 canoes had started, and we determined on at- 

 tempting to force a passage along the shore ; in 

 which we fortunately succeeded, after seven hours' 

 labour and much hazard to our frail vessels. The 

 ice lay so close that the crews disembarked on it, 

 and effected a passage by bearing against the 

 pieces with their poles ; but in conducting the 

 canoes through the narrow channels thus formed, 

 the greatest care was requisite, to prevent the 

 sharp projecting points from breaking the bark. 

 They fortunately received no material injury, 

 though they were split in two places. 



At the distance of three miles, we came to the 

 entrance of a deep bay, whose bottom was filled 

 by a body of ice so compact as to preclude the 

 idea of a passage through it ; whilst at the same 



