282 TJiirty Years 



degree than themselves, from, the effects of famine, 

 owing to our being of a less robust habit, and less ac- 

 customed to privations. We had no means of punish- 

 ing this crime, but by the threat that they should for- 

 feit their wages, which had now ceased to operate. 



Mr. Back and his companions set out at six in the 

 morning, and we started at seven. As the snow had 

 entirely disappeared, and there were no means of dis- 

 tinguishing the footsteps of stragglers, I gave strict 

 orders, previously to our setting out, for all the party 

 to keep together : and especially I desired the two 

 Esquimaux not to leave us, they having often strayed 

 in search of the remains of animals. Our people, how- 

 ever, through despondency, had become careless and 

 disobedient, and had ceased to dread punishment, or 

 hope for reward. Much time was lost in halting and 

 firing guns to collect them, but the labor of walking 

 was so much lightened by the disappearance of the 

 snow, that we advanced seven or eight miles along the 

 lake before neon, exclusive of the loss of distance in 

 rounding its numerous bays. At length we came to 

 an arm, running away to the norlh-east, and apparent- 

 ly connected with the lake which we had coasted on 



the 22d, 23d, and 24th of the month. 



The idea of again rounding such an extensive piece 

 of water and of traveling over so barren a country was 

 dreadful, ami we feared thai other arms, equally large, 



