OF THE POLAR SEA. 319 



to my departure, I packed up the journals of the 

 officers, the charts, and some other documents, 

 together with a letter addressed to the Under- 

 Secretary of State, detaiUng the occurrences of 

 the Expedition up to this period, which package 

 was given in charge to Peltier and Samandre, 

 with direction that it should be brought away by 

 the Indians who might come to them, I also in- 

 structed them to forward succour immediately on 

 its arrival to our companions in the rear, which 

 they solemnly promised to do, and I left a letter 

 for my friends, Richardson and Hood, to be sent 

 at the same time. I thought it necessary to ad- 

 monish Peltier, Samandr^, and Adam, to eat two 

 meals every day, in order to keep up their 

 strength, which they promised me they would do. 

 No language that I can nse could adequately de- 

 scribe the parting scene. I shall only say there 

 was far more cahnness and resignation to the 

 Divine will evinced by every one than could have 

 been expected. We were all cheered by tlie 

 hope that the Indians would be found by the one 

 party, and relief sent to the other. Those who 

 remained entreated us to make all the haste we 

 could, and expressed their hope of seeing the In- 

 dians in ten or twelve days. 



At first starting we were so feeble as scarcely 

 to be able to move forwards, and the descent of 



