In the Arctic Regions. 249 
absolutely necessary to be carried, were then put up in 
boxes to be left en cache here, in order that the men’s 
burdens might be as light as possible. . 
The next morning was warm, and very fine. Every 
one was on the alert at an early hour, being anxious 
to commence the journey. Our luggage consisted of 
ammunition, nets, hatchets, ice chisels, astronomical 
instruments, clothing, blankets, three kettles, and the 
two canoes, which were each carried by one man. The 
officers carried such a portion of their own things as 
their strength would permit; the weight carried by 
each man was about ninety pounds, and with this we 
advanced at the rate of about a mile an hour, including 
rests. In the evening the hunters killed a lean cow, 
out of alarge drove of ‘mysitoxen ; but the men were 
too much laden to carry ‘more than a small portion of 
its flesh. The alluvial soil, ‘which towards the mouth 
of the river spreads into plains, covered with grass 
and willows, was now giving place to a more barren 
and hilly country ; so that we could but just collect 
sufficient brush wood to cook our suppers. The part 
of the river we skirted to-day was shallow, and flowed 
over a bed of sand ; its width about one hundred and 
twenty yards, About midnight our tent was blown 
down by a squall, and we were completely drenched 
with rain before it could be re-pitched. 
In the morning of a of September a fall of 
