176 THE WHALEMAN ; OR, 



great measure during the middle of the day, 

 and took the morning and afternoon, and even 

 the night time, as more agreeable to our diseased 

 eyes. Our eyes were in such a sad condition 

 that we could not endure the powerful and bril- 

 liant reflection of the sunlisrht upon snow of 

 sparkling and perfect whiteness. While the eyes 

 of all of us were very sore and much swollen, 

 some of our number were so blind that they 

 could not see any thing for several days. 



We were very anxious to complete our journey 

 to East Cape. Those, therefore, who could see, 

 and were more fortunate in this particular than 

 others, led along those who were blind with the 

 aid of strings. One or two would take hold of 

 the string, and another would guide them. Thus 

 we worked along for miles in deep snows, through 

 narrow paths, up hills and down declivities, over 

 broken ice, now and then pitching into some 

 cavity concealed by the snow. In this manner 

 we who could see, though our eyes were highly 

 inflamed, led those who could not, both by the 

 hand and with the aid of strings or walrus cord. 

 It was slow and tedious traveling, it is true ; yet 

 every mile we gained in the direction of East 

 Cape we felt was bringing us nearer to deliver- 

 ance. All were animated with the desire to 

 reach this goal of our highest earthly hopes. 



