OF THE POLAR SEA. 313 



and that the only relief for them must be procured 

 from the Indians. I resolved, therefore, on going 

 also in search of them ; but my companions were 

 absolutely incapable of proceeding, and I thought 

 by halting two or three days they might gather 

 a little strength, whilst the delay would afford us 

 the chance of learning whether Mr. Back had seen 

 the Indians. 



We now looked round for the means of sub- 

 sistence, and were gratified to find several deer- 

 skins, which had been thrown away during our 

 former residence. The bones were gathered from 

 the heap of ashes ; these with the skins, and the 

 addition of tripe de roche, we considered would 

 support us tolerably well for a time. As to the 

 house, the parchment being torn from the win- 

 dows, the apartment we selected for our abode 

 was exposed to all the rigour of the season. 

 We endeavoured to exclude the wind as much as 

 possible, by placing loose boards against the 

 apertures. The temperature was now between 

 15° and 20° below zero. We procured fuel by 

 pulling up the flooring of the other rooms, and 

 water for the purpose of cooking, by melting the 

 snow. Whilst we were seated round the fire, 

 singeing the deer skin for supper, we were re- 

 joiced by the unexpected entrance of Augustus. 

 He had followed quite a different course from 



