OF THE POLAR SEA. 



7 



Junius went farther up the river in search 

 of a better crossing-place, and did not re- 

 join us this day. As several of the party 

 were drenched from head to foot, and we 

 were all wet to the middle, our clothes be- 

 came stiff with the frost, and we walked 

 with much pain for the remainder of the 

 day. The march was continued to a late 

 hour from our anxiety to rejoin the hunters 

 who had gone before, but we were obliged 

 to encamp at the end of ten miles and a 

 quarter without seeing them. Our only 

 meal to-day consisted of a partridge each, 

 (which the hunters shot,) mixed with tripe 

 de roche. This repast, although scanty for 

 men with appetites such as our daily fatigue 

 created, proved a cheerful one, and was re- 

 ceived with thankfulness. Most of the men 

 had to sleep in the open air, in consequence 

 of the absence of Credit, who carried their 

 tent ; but we fortunately found an unusual 

 quantity of roots to make a fire, which pre- 

 vented their suffering much from the cold, 

 though the thermometer was at 17°. 



We started at six on the 9th, and at the 



