40;i " burning" our vessel. 



and rough ground had greatly jagged the sides 

 and keels of our vessels, Avhich therefore required 

 " burning." 



The ragged splinters are cut away, and the wood 

 smoothed off as well as may be with the crooked 

 knife — an implement in universal use in the country, 

 having, as its name implies, a bent blade and handle, 

 and greatly resembling those used by blacksmiths in 

 shoeing horses. Large pieces of birch bark, burning 

 with a fierce and lurid flame, are ignited under the 

 boat, and grease is rubbed over the bottom to 

 decrease resistance in passing through the water; 

 soft resin is also applied to cracks or holes in the 

 planks. 



In the evening of the twelfth a partial eclipse of 

 the moon occurred, and we also observed a most 

 splendid meteor, which bore a train Hke a bursting 

 rocket, and so much resembled a comet, remaining 

 stationary for a considerable time, that we sought for 

 it next evening, but had no recurrence of the 

 phenomenon, and concluded that it must have been 

 a meteor or jBre-ball. The weather at this period 

 was in strong contrast to that of our winter's 

 sojourn ; during the hottest days we registered 83° 

 of Fahrenheit in shade, 104° in the sun, and by 

 concentrating the rays of that body upon a black 



