212 THE WEATHER. 



It must be noticed, too, that this took place in the sum- 

 mer of those latitudes ; i. e. in January, corresponding to 

 our July. The party, consisting of Sir Joseph Banks, 

 Dr Solander, and ten attendants, were returning from a 

 botanical excursion, and Dr Solander had just been 

 cautioning the company against indulging in a propensity 

 to sleep. The account proceeds as follows : 



' They had not proceeded far before the effects appre- 

 hended began to be felt ; and he, who had thus cautioned 

 others, was the first to declare himself unable to observe 

 his own precept. At length, overcome by a stupor, he 

 threw himself on the ground, although it was covered 

 with snow. A black servant of Mr Banks, name,d 

 Richmond, next yielded to this fatal propensity. In this 

 distress, five of the company were sent forward to make 

 a fire at the first convenient place they could find, while 

 the rest continued with the doctor, making use of every 

 means to keep him awake. The poor negro was so 

 overcome with fatigue that being told he must keep in 

 motion or he would be frozen to death, replied that he 

 desired only to lie down and die ! At length, all the 

 endeavors of the company became ineffectual. Their 

 whole strength was not sufficient U> carry their two 

 exhausted companions, so that they were suffered to sit 

 down, and in a short time they fell into a profound sleep. 

 In a few minutes afterwards news was brought that a fire 

 was kindled at the distance of about a quarter of a mile. 

 Dr Solander was then waked with great difficulty ; but 

 during his short sleep his muscles were become so con- 

 tracted that his shoes fell off his feet, and he had almost 

 lost the use of his limbs : but all attempts to wake the 

 servant were ineffectual. Two men, who seemed to have 

 suffered the least by the cold, were left to look after him, 

 and in a short time two others were sent to their relief. 

 One of the former rejoined the company, but the other 

 was quite inseneible. Their companions, therefore, 

 made them a bed of boughs, and spread the same covering 

 over them to a considerable height, and in that situation 

 left them to their fate. 



'The company passed the remainder of the night in a 

 dreadful situation round the fire. They supposed them- 



