LABRADOR JOURNAL 101 



althuiigh we kept as good a one as possible, having 

 never less than a cart load on at a tune, the snow 

 was so deep that we did not see the ground till 

 three in the morning, and the wind striking down 

 upon the fire, almost blinded us with smoke; at 

 the same time the snow fell in large fleaks, and in 

 such abmidance, that it wetted us to the skin, and 

 also prevented the fire from affording us much 

 warmth. 



Wednes.^ March 18, 1772. Glad were we to 

 see the day appear, and immediately determined 

 on returning to^Ir. Hewet's house, but on looking 

 round us we found a retreat not so easy a matter; 

 for, having dug away the snow with our rackets 

 that we might keep ourselves on a level with the 

 fire, we perceived ourselves to be in a hole full 

 ten feet deep, with perpendicular sides of hard 

 snow. Fortunately, however, a friendly tree ex- 

 tending its branches through the snow, we laid 

 hold of them, struck our toes into the wall and got 

 out. Leaving all my baggage except my bread- 

 bag, we returned to Mr. Hewet's, and gave up all 

 farther thoughts of prosecuting our intended 

 JuLirney. For the whole country between Temple 

 Bay and St. Modest is high and barren, and no 

 woods to be met with but in four places, which are 

 about ten miles from each other; consequently a 

 fresh breeze of wind causes the drift to fly so 

 thick as to obstruct the siglit. F found Mr. Hewet 

 and several of liis peo])le drunk, (yesterday being 

 St. Patrick's day) in honoui' of their native coun- 

 try. 



