OF THE POLAR SEA. 



8? 



at prison-bars, and other Canadian games, 

 till two o'clock in the morning, and we were 

 happy to observe the Indians sitting in 

 groups enjoying the sport. We were de- 

 sirous of filling up the leisure moments of 

 the Canadians with amusements, not only 

 for the purpose of enlivening their spirits, 

 but also to prevent them from conversing 

 upon our differences with the Indians, which 

 they must have observed. The exercise 

 was also in a peculiar manner serviceable to 

 Mr. Hood. Ever ardent in his pursuits, 

 he had, through close attention tc his draw- 

 ings and other avocations, confined himself 

 too much to the house in winter, and his 

 health was impaired by his sedentary habits. 

 I could only take the part of a spectator in 

 these amusements, being still lame from the 

 hurt formerly alluded to. 



The sun now sank for so short a time 

 below the horizon, that there was more 

 light at midnight, than we enjoyed on some 

 days at noon in the winter time. 



On the 27th the hunters brought in two 

 rein-deer. Many of the Indians attended 



