OF THE POLAR SEA. 191 



dinnerless to bed rather than encroach on 

 our small stock, had we not been desirous 

 of satisfying the appetites, and cheering the 

 spirits of our Canadian companions at the 

 commencement of our voyage. These 

 thoughtless people would at any time incur 

 the hazard of absolute starvation at a future 

 period, for the present gratification of their 

 appetites; to indulge which they do not 

 hesitate, as we more than once experienced, 

 at helping themselves secretly ; it being, in 

 their opinion, no disgrace to be detected in 

 pilfering food. 



Our only luxury now was a little salt, 

 which had long been our substitute both for 

 bread and vegetables. Since our departure 

 from Point Lake we had boiled the Indian 

 tea plant, ledum palustre, which produced a 

 beverage in smell much resembling rhubarb ; 

 notwithstanding which we found it refresh- 

 ing, and were gratified to see this plant 

 flourishing abundantly on the sea-shore, 

 though of dwarfish growth. 



July 21. — The wind, which had blown 

 strong through the night, became moderate 



