OF THE POLAR SEA. 261 



were quite benumbed with cold before a suffi- 

 ciency could be collected even for a scanty meal. 

 On proceeding our men were somewhat cheered, 

 by observing on the sandy summit of a hill, from 

 whence the snow had been blown, the summer 

 track of a man ; and afterwards by seeing several 

 deer tracks on the snow. About noon the wea- 

 ther cleared up a little, and, to our great joy, we 

 saw a -herd of musk-oxen grazing in a valley 

 below us. The party instantly halted, and the 

 best hunters w^ere sent out ; they approached the 

 animals with the utmost caution, no less than two 

 hours being consumed before they got witliin 

 gun-shot. In the mean time we beheld their 

 proceedings with extreme anxiety, and many 

 secret prayers were, doubtless, offered up for 

 their success. At length they opened their fire, 

 and w^e had the satisfaction of seeing one of the 

 largest cows fall ; another w^as wounded, but 

 escaped. This success infused spirit into our 

 starving party. To skin and cut up the animal 

 was the work of a few minutes. Tlie contents of 

 its stomach were devoured upon the spot, and the 

 raw intestines, which were next attacked, were 

 pronounced by the most delicate amongst us to 

 be excellent. A few willows, whose tops were 

 seen peeping through the snow in the bottom 

 of the valley, were quickly grubbed, the tents 

 pitched, and supper cooked, and devoured with 



