NINE MONTHS IN THE ARCTIC. 153 



seeking the best track they could through an un- 

 known region of valleys, cliffs, ice, snow banks, 

 &c, ■— how these men were kept alive, is a mat- 

 ter of profound surprise, and certainly one of 

 those instances of special providence in behalf 

 of the needy and suffering sons of men. 



Mr. Fisher said, all he had with him to eat by 

 the way, when he left the settlement, was " some 

 burnt coffee in his pocket." The others with him 

 were no better off. It is wonderful that they lived 

 amid so much destitution and exposure. What 

 will not necessity compel men to do ! Mr. Fish- 

 er, with the rest, asked the natives for something 

 to eat; and he obtained a small piece of frozen 

 whale's blubber. In less than two hours they 

 were brought to the huts, and to their great joy 

 found provisions more abundant. The whole 

 distance they had traveled exceeded twenty 

 miles. 



A few days after the departure of Mr. Fisher's 

 company, and the one that preceded his, word 

 was brought to the settlement by some of the 

 traveling natives, that the whole party were 

 frozen to death. 



This was sad intelligence indeed, and yet it 

 was what we greatly feared. We, however, had 

 our doubts as to the truth of the report. We 

 had some very strong reasons for suspecting the 



