OP THE POLAR SEA. 297 



to coUect it, and breakfasted. Mr. Hood, who 

 was now very feeble, and Dr. Richardson, who 

 attached himself to him, walked together at a 

 gentle pace in the rear of the party. I kept with 

 the foremost men, to cause them to halt occa- 

 sionally, until the stragglers came up. Resuming 

 our march after breakfast, we followed the track 

 of Mr. Back's -party, and encamped early, as all 

 of us were much fatigued, particularly Credit, 

 who having to-day carried the mens tent, it 

 being his turn to do so, was so exhausted, that 

 when he reached the encampment he was unable 

 to stand. The tripe de roche disagreed with this 

 man and with Vaillant, in consequence of which, 

 they were the first whose strength totally failed. 

 We had a small quantity of this weed in the 

 evening, and the rest of our supper was made up 

 of scraps of roasted leather. The distance walk- 

 ed to-day was six miles. As Credit was very 

 weak in the morning, his load w-as reduced to 

 little more than his personal luggage, consisting 

 of his blanket, shoes, and gun. Previous to 

 setting out, the whole party ate the remains of 

 their old shoes, and whatever scraps of leather 

 they had, to strengthen their stomachs for the 

 fatigue of the day's journey. We left the en- 

 campment at nine, and pursued our route over a 



