OF THE POLAR SEA. 2? 



who had been sent from Fort Churchill by 

 Governor Williams, to serve in the capacity 

 of interpreters to the Expedition, were at 

 the fort. These men were short of statures, 

 but muscular, apparently good-natured, and 

 perfectly acquainted with the purpose for 

 which they were intended. They had 

 built themselves a snow house on an ad- 

 jacent island, where they used frequently to 

 sleep. The following day I examined the 

 pieces, and to my great disappointment 

 found them to consist of three kegs of spi- 

 rits, already adulterated by the voyagers 

 who had brought them ; a keg of flour, and 

 thirty-five pounds of sugar, instead of sixty. 

 The ammunition and tobacco, the two great- 

 est requisites, were left behind. 



" I lost no time in making a demand 

 from both parties ; and though their united 

 list did not furnish the half of what was re- 

 quired, yet it is possible that every thing 

 was given by them which could be spared 

 consistently with their separate interests, 

 particularly by Mr. M 4 Vicar, who in many 

 articles gave me the whole he had in his 



