152 VOYAGE TO THE POLAR SEA. Ogtohkr 



Bay, a long spell of misty weather set in, with frequent 

 falls of snow, lasting until October 10. 



Arctic scenery is naturally expected to be some- 

 what desolate in appearance, but few are prepared for 

 the utter dreariness which a long continuance of misty 

 weather with a snow-charged atmosphere produces. 

 No shadows or skyline being visible, no measure of 

 height or distance can be formed. The land and the 

 ice-covered sea, masked alike with snow, are indis- 

 tinguishable, and present a foggy appearance which 

 is only found to be unreal when some dark object 

 intercepts the view. 



During the 30th I engaged in snow-house building, 

 with Lieutenant Eawson and four men. We were 

 employed four hours in constructing a dome -shaped 

 house eight feet in diameter, sufficiently large for four 

 men to lie full length, with not too much room to spare. 

 This was a very substantial building and lasted through- 

 out the winter. Doubtless a lighter one could be con- 

 structed in much less time when hard snow is procur- 

 able ; but during half the Arctic travelling season hard 

 snow is not to be obtained in high northern latitudes ; 

 and travellers unprovided with a tent would fare badly. 

 Captain Hall, when travelling with Mr. Chester and two 

 Eskimo, Hans and Joe, near Newman's Bay, relates 

 that on October 22, 1871, they were two hours and 

 forty minutes building their snow-house, nine feet in 

 diameter and five and a-half feet in height. This is a 

 long time to keep tired men exposed to severe weather 

 after dragging a heavy sledge for ten or eleven hours. 



