186 THE LIFE OF E. J. PECK 



" The country about here is dreary in the ex- 

 treme not a tree or living thing to be seen, noth- 

 ing but one vast expanse of ice and snow as far as 

 the eye can reach. But it is well to be here amidst 

 these lonely wastes to spread the knowledge of a 

 Saviour's love. Surroundings are nothing com- 

 paratively. The use we make of our life is the 

 great reality." 



Little Whale River was the intended limit of 

 this itineration. The record of the last day's 

 journey northwards is, " March 25, we reached 

 the Eskimos we were in search of in good time. 

 We found four snow houses, each inhabited by one 

 family. We visited them, after which they all 

 gathered together in the largest house where I 

 instructed them. 



"After staying some time we passed on to Little 

 Whale River. We got on nicely until within seven 

 miles of the post, when our way was almost blocked 

 up with vast boulders of ice. We knew, however, 

 it was no good sitting still and looking at each 

 other, the only way to get through before dark 

 was to press on ; so urging our dogs over the frozen 

 masses we worked away with a will to keep the 

 sledge moving as the dogs wended their way through 

 the rugged road. After some three hours' hard 

 work we arrived at Little Whale River, where we 

 found some Eskimos living in an old shanty. We 

 put up with them, and made ourselves as comfort- 



