In the Arctic Regions. 193 
plained much of the cold, but they were amused with 
their first view of the sea, and particularly with the 
sight of the seals that were swimming about near the 
entrance of the river, but these sensations gave place 
to despondency before the evening had elapsed. They 
were terrified at the idea of a voyage through an icy 
sea in bark canoes. They speculated on the length 
of the journey, the. roughness of the sea, the uncer- 
tainty of provisions, the exposure to cold where we 
could expect no fuel, and. the prospect of having to 
traverse the barren grounds to get to some establish- 
ment. The two interpreters expressed their appre- 
hensions with the least disguise, and again urgently 
applied to be discharged ; but only one of the Cana- 
dians made a similar request. : Judging that the con- 
stant occupation of their time as soon as we were ena- 
bled to commence the voyage, would prevent them 
from conjuring up so many causes of fear, and that 
familiarity with the scenes on the coast, would in a 
short time enable them to give scope to their natural 
. cheerfulness, the officers endeavored to ridicule their 
fears, and happily succeeded for the present. The 
manner in which our faithful Hepburn viewed the ele- 
ment that he had been so long accustomed to, con- 
tributed not a little to make them ashamed of their 
fears. 
On the morning of the 19th, Dr. Richardson, accom- 
