206 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



stood in the tents ; and for several nights 

 thin films of ice had appeared on the salt 

 water amongst the cakes of stream ice.* 

 Notwithstanding this state of temperature, 

 we were tormented by swarms of musqui- 

 toes ; we had persuaded ourselves that these 

 pests could not sustain the cold in the vici- 

 nity of the sea, but it appears they haunt 

 every part of this country in defiance of 

 climate. Mr. Back made an excursion to 

 a hill at seven or eight miles' distance, and 

 from its summit he perceived the ice close 

 to the shore as far as his view extended. 



On the morning of the 29th the party at- 

 tended divine service. About noon the ice 

 appearing less compact, we embarked to 

 change our situation, having consumed all 

 the fuel within our reach. The wind came 

 off the land just as the canoes had started, 

 and we determined on attempting to force 

 a passage along the shore ; in which we 

 happily succeeded, after seven hours' labour 

 and much hazard to our frail vessels. The 



* This is termed bay -ice by the Greenland- men. 



