14 



JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



musk-oxen were grazing, without being 

 perceived. Had the herd discovered us 

 and taken alarm, our hunters in their pre- 

 sent state of debility would in all probability 

 have failed in approaching them. 



We were detained all the next day by a 

 strong southerly wind, and were much in- 

 commoded in the tents by the drift snow. 

 The temperature was 20°. The average 

 for the last ten days about 24°. We re- 

 stricted ourselves to one meal this day, as 

 we were at rest, and there was only meat 

 remaining sufficient for the morrow. 



The gale had not diminished on the 12th, 

 and, as we were fearful of its continuance 

 for some time, we determined on going for- 

 ward ; our only doubt regarded the preser- 

 vation of the canoe, but the men promised 

 to pay particular attention to it, and the 

 most careful persons were appointed to take 

 it in charge. The snow was two feet deep, 

 and the ground much broken, which ren- 

 dered the march extremely painful. The 

 whole party complained more of faintness 

 and weakness than they had ever done be- 



