OF THE POLAR SEA. 275 



haze for the first time for six days, and we ob- 

 tained an observation in latitude 65° 7' 06" N., 

 which was six miles to the southward of that part 

 of Point Lake to which our course was directed. 

 By this observation we discovered that we had 

 kept to the eastward of the proper course, which 

 may be attributed partly to the difficulty of pre- 

 serving a straight line through an unknown coun- 

 try, unassisted by celestial observations, and in 

 such thick weather, that our view was often limited 

 to a few hundred yards ; but chiefly to our total 

 ignorance of the amount of the variation of the 

 compass. 



We altered the course immediately to west- 

 south-west, and fired guns to apprize the hunters 

 who were out of our view, and ignorant of our 

 having done so. After walking about two miles 

 we put up to collect the stragglers. Two par- 

 tridges were killed, and these with some tripe de 

 roche, furnished our supper. Notwithstanding a 

 full explanation was given to the men of the rea- 

 sons for altering the course, and they were as- 

 sured that the observation had enabled us to dis- 

 cover our exact distance from Fort Enterprise, 

 they could not divest themselves of the idea of 

 our having lost our way, and a gloom was spread 

 over every countenance. At this encampment 

 Dr. Richardson was obliged to deposit his speci- 



T 2 



