238 Sdll Sets Out in a Gale. [warch, isee. 



XK-ker-^hoo, made up his party. He remained behind for a little 

 while to compare his chronometers, and, after '^ rendering thanks for 

 (his) innumerable blessings, to ask protection on departing for a country 

 where dangers would be found on every hand." Follo>ving the tracks 

 of the sledges as well as he could trace them through the increasing 

 (hitT, lie soon overtook his party. All the other natives who had been 

 at tliis time at the encampment had now gone off in different direc- 

 tions, some toward Now-yarn and others to the lakes. 



The gale became very severe, beating fiercely and directly in the 

 face of one who was poorly prepared to bear it from his having eaten 

 little or no food for several days. In writing of this, he says there 

 had been before him an abundance of such as he would have relished 

 if he could relish anything ; but he had been so busy in writing and 

 so enwrapped in anxieties that he had little or no appetite. 



Let one wlio has had the like exj)erience as mine, with no other people but 

 savages to deal with, say whether my task has been an enviable one during all 

 the time of making every due aiTangement and preparation for this journey. 

 The labor of the writing I have done, without speaking of anything else, has been 

 enough to kill many a man, and has nearly killed me. 



Coming up with the sledges, he now lunched on raw frozen 

 venison with the voracious appetite which the cold gale had created; 

 and on finding that Ar-mou had harnessed himself beside his four 

 dogs, placed himself at the rear of the sledge, helping it forward by 

 constantly following up and pushing. Holding his head low down, 

 he was sheltered from the sharp wind by the load on the sled. Before 

 midday they were all met by Ou-e-la with sick wife (No. 1), coming 

 dr)wn the river in haste to be doctored. Igloos were built, and twenty- 

 one ])<rsniis turned in hastily for shelter. The position was found 

 tn he jat. nrr 34' IX" N., long. 86'" 57' 15" W. There was no anxiety 



