230 Thirty Years 



from an intentional relaxation in their efforts to kill 

 deer, in order that the want of provision might compel 

 us to put a period to our voyage. 



I must now mention that many concurrent circum- 

 stances had caused me, during the few last days, to 

 meditate on the approach of this painful necessity. 

 The strong breezes we had encountered for some days, 

 led me to fear that the season was breaking up, and 

 severe weather would soon ensue, which we could not 

 sustain in a country destitute of fuel. Our stock of 

 provision was now reduced to a quantity of pemmican 

 only sufficient for three days' consumption, and the 

 prospect of increasing it was not encouraging, for 

 though reindeer were seen, they could not be easily 

 approached on the level shores we were now coasting, 

 besides, it was to be apprehended they would soon 

 migrate to the south. It was evident that the time 

 spent in exploring the Arctic and Melville Sounds, 

 and Bathurst's Inlet, had precluded the hope of* reach- 

 ing Repulse Bay, which at the outset of the voyage 

 we had fondly cherished ; and it was equally obvious 

 that as our distance from any of the trading establish- 

 ments would increase as we proceeded, (he hazardous 

 traverse across tin' barren grounds, which we should 

 have to make, if compelled to abandoD the canoes 

 upon any part of the coast, would become greater. 



I this evening communicated to the officers my sen- 



