In the Artic Regions. 145 
ing must have been at least as much more. We were 
auch rejoiced at their arrival, and proceeded forthwith 
to pierce the spirit cask, and issue to each of the 
aousehold the portion of rum which had been promis- 
2d to them on the first day of the year. The spirits, 
which were proof, were frozen, but after standing at 
she fire for some time, they flowed out of the consis- 
‘ency of honey. The temperature of the liquid, even 
in this state, was so low as instantly to convert into 
ce the moisture which condensed on the surface of the 
lram-glass. The fingers also adhered to the glass, 
ind would, doubtless, have been speedily frozen had 
shey been kept in contact with it, yet each of the 
royagers swallowed his dram without experiencing the 
lightest inconvenience, or complaining even of the 
sooth-ach. 
The temperature in February was considerably low- 
or than in,the preceding month, although not so low 
is in December, the mean being —25.3°. The great- 
2st temperature was 1° above zero, and the lowest 51° 
below. 
On thé 5th of March the people returned from Slave 
Lake, bringing the remainder of our stores, consisting 
of a cask of flour, thirty-six pounds of sugar, a roll of 
tobacco, and forty pounds of tobacco. I received a 
letter from Mr, Weeks, wherein he denied that he had 
2ver circulated any reports to our disadvantage ; and 
