TO THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 147 
Monday, 25th. — Nothing of any importance has 
occurred for this week past, the weather has been, 
as might be expected, getting gradually colder, the 
thermometer being some days ago as low as 17°, 
but we have not had any considerable fall of snow 
yet; in the vallies, indeed, there is a good deal of 
drift snow, but the surface of the land, in general, 
has very little more snow on it than there was when 
we came into the harbour. Notwithstanding the 
only part of the land where there was any consi- 
derable vegetation is now covered with snow, the 
rein-deer have not yet left it, for several large herds 
of them have been seen during this week past; but 
they all appeared, as I have already remarked, to 
be on their way to the westward, and whenever we 
approach them they set off at full speed in that di- 
rection, so that from this reason, and the uncer- 
tainty, and even difficulty of managing fire-arms 
with any dexterity, owing to the coldness of the 
weather, we have not succeeded in killing any of 
them. A wolf was seen to-day at a little distance 
from the ships ; he was about the same size, and of 
the same colour, as the one seen some days ago: 
the general opinion, is indeed, that it is the same 
animal. A small white fox was also seen to-day, 
he seemed not to be quite so wild as the wolf, but 
unless they are caught in traps, I suspect that we 
shall find it a difficult matter to get nigh enough 
either of them to be able to shoot them: in the 
night time, however, I have no doubt but they come 
very near the ships, to pick up some of the refuse 
that is thrown on the ice, so that I am in hopes 
that we shall entrap some of them before the win- 
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