282 Thirty Years 
degree than themselves, from the effects of famine, 
owing to our being of a less robust habit, and less ac- 
customed to privations. We had no means of punish- 
ing this crime, but by the threat that they should for- 
feit their wages, which had now ceased to operate. 
Mr. Back and his companions set out at six in the 
morning, and we started at seven. As the snow had 
entirely disappeared, and there were no means of dis- 
tinguishing the footsteps of stragglers, I gave strict 
orders, previously to our setting out, for all the party 
to keep together: and especially I desired the two 
Esquimaux not to leave us, they having often strayed 
in search of the remains of animals. Our people, how- 
ever, through despondency, had become careless and 
disobedient, and had ceased to dread punishment, or 
hope for reward. Much time was lost in halting and 
firing guns to collect them, but the labor of walking 
was so much lightened by the disappearance of the 
snow, that we advanced seven or eight miles along the 
lake before noon, exclusive of the loss of distance in 
rounding its numerous bays. At length we came to 
an arm, running away to the north-east, and apparent- 
ly connected with the lake which we had coasted on 
the 22d, 23d, and 24th of the month. 
The idea of again rounding such an extensive piece 
of water and of traveling over so barren a country was 
dreadful, and we feared that other arms, equally large, 
