192 



SECOND VOYAGE FOR THE DISCOVERY 



1822. severe as ever. The tent was half buried in the snow, and I set all hands 

 i^i" to work at digging out the sledge, but it was so deeply sunk that our 

 efforts were unsuccessful, and in the attempt our faces and extremities were 

 most painfully frost-bitten. With all these difficulties before us, Mr. Palmer 

 and myself consulted together as to whether it would be most prudent to 

 endeavour to pass another night in our present precarious situation, or 

 while we were yet able to walk make an attempt to reach the ships, which 

 we supposed were about six miles from us. We could not see a yard of 

 our way, yet to remain appeared worse than to go forward, which last plan 

 was decided on. At thirty minutes past nine, having placed all our lug- 

 gage in the tent, and erected a small flag over it, we set out, carrying a 

 few pounds of bread, a little rum, and a spade. The wind being now in our 

 backs, we walked very briskly, and having an occasional glimpse of a very faint 

 sun through the drift, managed to steer a tolerable course. James Carr 

 having loitered a little behind us was suddenly missed, and by the most for- 

 tunate chance we saw him running across our path in search of us ; for had 

 he been ten yards farther off he might have been lost. After walking several 

 miles we came to grounded ice, and saw the tracks of Esquimaux men 

 and dogs, but these were so confused that we knew not which marks to 

 follow. 



" Not knowing on which side of the ships we had arrived, we feared to go to 

 the southward or eastward, and accordingly went as nearly west as possible, 

 in which direction we again crossed tracks. We now wandered amongst the 

 heavy hummocks of ice without knowing which track to pursue, and, suffer- 

 ing from cold, fatigue, and anxiety, were soon completely bewildered. Se- 

 veral of our party began to exhibit symptoms of that horrid kind of insensi- 

 bility which is the prelude to sleep. They all professed extreme willingness 

 to do what they were told in order to keep in exercise, but none obeyed ; on 

 the contrary they reeled about like drunken men. The faces of several 

 were severely frost-bitten, and some had for a considerable time lost sensa- 

 tion in their fingers and toes ; yet they made not the slightest exertion to rub 

 "the parts affected, and discontinued their general custom of warming each 

 other on observing a discoloration of the skin. We continued for some 

 time to employ them in building a snow- wall, ostensibly as a shelter from the 

 wind, but in reality to give them exercise, for standing still must have proved 

 fatal to men in our circumstances. My attention was particularly directed 



