TO THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 205 
vice whilst we went before the wind; but this was 
not always practicable, as we had at different times 
to cross ravines, and other places which obliged 
us to deviate from our true course. The direction 
of ‘all the ravines that we crossed this evening 
was from east to west; one of them was very 
large, having its southern side very abrupt, and 
the opposite slanting gradually. 
Monday, 5th. — The weather became so foggy 
after ten o’clock last night, that we could not see 
distinctly above fifty or sixty yards before us, so 
that we were obliged to steer our way by compass. 
This indeed we found no great difficulty in doing, 
but owing to the ground being so completely 
covered with snow, we could not find a single spot 
clear of it to pitch the tents on at our usual time of 
resting, and we were at last obliged to be content 
with a sort of pavement which we formed of loose 
stones to place them on. Fatigue however made 
it as soft to us as a bed of down, for we rested 
from a quarter after one o’clock this morning, 
until half past five, as comfortably as_ possible. 
After dinner this morning we drank His Majesty’s 
health, in honour of the anniversary of his birth- 
day. We were rather behind hand in point of 
time in paying this compliment, but as the circum- 
stances already stated prevented our dining earlier, 
we may hope to be excused for our delay. Our 
trip this morning was, comparatively speaking, but 
short, for we did not start until a quarter before 
six o’clock, and we stopped again at eight. Our 
course was across a level plain, so completely 
covered with snow, that, had the weather been clear 
