Rough Weather., 329 



every rock is hidden beneath snow so deep, that every 

 3tep the traveller takes, he is in danger of falling in his 

 grave ; while avalanches threaten him from above, and if 

 he lifts his eyes to the horizon, he sees nothing but dark 

 clo.uds filled with frost and snow, and inspiring him with 

 a feehng of despair. 



" y^^y 3- We have had a stiff easterly wind all day, 

 rainy, and the water so rough we could not go ashore, for 

 plants to draw, until late in the afternoon. The view of 

 the sea from the highest rocks was grand, the small islands 

 were covered with the foam and surf thrown up by the 

 agitated ocean. Thank God that we are not tossing on 

 its billows. 



" yuly 4. Two parties went out to-day to get birds and 

 plants, and I remained on board all day drawing. Cap- 

 tain Bayfield sent us a quarter of mutton for our fourth 

 of July dinner, and I dare say it is a rarity on this coast 

 of Labrador, even on this day. 



" yuly 5. Thermometer 50^. I drew from four o'clock 

 this morning until three this afternoon, and then went on 

 an expedition for a few miles to a large rough island, 

 which I traversed until I was weary, for walking on this 

 spongy moss of Labrador is a task no one can imagine 

 without trying it ; at every step the foot sinks in a deep 

 moss cushion, which closes over it, and requires consid- 

 erable exertion to draw it up. When the moss is over a 

 marshy tract, then you sink a couple of feet deep every 

 step you take, and to reach a bare rock is delightful, and 

 quite a relief. This afternoon the country looked more 

 terrifyingly wild than ever, the dark clouds throwing their 

 shadows on the stupendous masses of rugged rocks, pre- 

 sented one of the wildest pictures of nature that the eye 

 can find to look on anywhere. 



" July 6. Thermometer 48°. At noon my fingers 

 i\'ere so coM that I could no longer hold my pencil to 



