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 circam- 
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 preeluded 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, the hazardous 
traverse across the barren grounds, which we should’ 
have to make, if compelled to abandon the canoes 
upon any part of the coast, would become greater. 
I this evening communicated to the officers my sen- 
