386 VOYAGE TO THE POLAR SEA. May 



one individual at any meal ; some go without altogether, 

 and these latter in consequence are not allowed to 

 smoke or to have their grog. As we possess a surplus 

 of bacon, this is issued, in addition to the pemmican, 

 to those who wish it. 



' 28th. — Yesterday, a bird was seen by a few of the 

 sick men who were remaining by the advanced sledges 

 whilst the party was returning for the heavy sledge, 

 which from their description appears to have been a 

 turnstone. The weather cleared up slightly after 

 lunch, and the sun made vain efforts to pierce the 

 clouds and murky atmosphere, and the land was 

 occasionally seen. Travelling across the heavy floes 

 and the young ice, over which we journeyed on the 

 21st ult., the snow-drifts are far deeper and more 

 frequent now than then ; pools of water were form- 

 ing between the snow-drifts, and a large quantity of 

 sludge was encountered, that made the travelling 

 very disagreeable. These pools of water were all 

 brackish. 



' Shortly before the tents were pitched, much ex- 

 citement was caused by the appearance of a little snow- 

 bunting, which fluttered around us for a short time, 

 uttering its to us rather sweet chirp, and then flew 

 away to the northward and westward, in the direction 

 of Cape Joseph Henry. This was an event of no small 

 interest to our party, as it was the first bird seen by the 

 majority for a period of nine months ; even the sick 

 men on the sledges requested they might have their 

 heads uncovered and lifted, so as to obtain a glimpse 

 of the little warbler. Distance made good two miles. 



c 29th. — A glorious day, with the sun shining 

 / 



