34 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



disgrace had happened ; for there is a pride 

 amongst ' Old Voyagers' which makes them 

 consider the state of being frost-bitten as 

 effeminate, and only excusable in a 6 Pork- 

 eater,' or one newly come into the country. 

 I was greatly fatigued, and suffered acute 

 pains in the knees and legs, both of which 

 were much swollen when we halted a little 

 above the Dog River. 



" December SO and 31. — Our journey 

 these days was by far the most annoying 

 we had yet experienced; but, independent 

 of the vast masses of ice that were piled on 

 one another, as well as the numerous open 

 places about the rapids, (and they did not a 

 little impede us,) there was a strong gale 

 from the north-west, and so dreadfully keen, 

 that our time was occupied in rubbing the 

 frozen parts of the face, and in attempting 

 to warm the hands, in order to be prepared 

 for the next operation. • Scarcely was one 

 place cured by constant friction than another 

 was frozen; and though there was nothing 

 pleasant about it, yet it was laughable 

 enough to observe the dexterity which was 



