OF THE POLAR SEA, 350 



and the large and cheerful fires they kept up, pro- 

 duced in us a sensation of comfort to which wc 

 had long been strangers. In the evening tlicy 

 brought in a pile of dried wood, which was lyinc- 

 on the river-side, and on w^hich we had often ( 

 a wishful eye, being unable to drag it up ; 

 bank. The Indians set about every thing ^^ 

 an activity that amazed us. Indeed, contrasted 

 with our emaciated figures and extreme debility, 

 their frames appeared to us gigantic, and their 

 strength supernatural. These kind creatures 

 next turned their attention to our personal ap- 

 pearance, and prevailed upon us to shave and 

 wash ourselves. The beards of the Doctor and 

 Hepburn had been untouched since they left the 

 sea-coast, and were become of a hideous length, 

 and peculiarly offensive to the Indians. The 

 Doctor and I suffered extremely from distention, 

 and therefore ate sparingly*. Hepburn was 

 getting bettor, and Adam recovered hin strengtli 

 with amazing rapidity. 



* The first almc ^'^'^^^^^ ^^^^'^^i^^ 

 l^r"ou'T>'th'eTrHvrorthe Indians the urinarv '<^<^^ ^ 

 oxtremely abundant, and we ^-"e d%cd '^^^^"^ ^^ eKtreiuc 

 sequence upwards of t™ ^''^^^ '" 'J °uav'"perhapsTc attributed to 

 annoyance in (lur reduced state, it ma}, ytiu i , 

 tlie quantity of the country tea tliat we drauk. 



