OF THE POLAR SEA. 



27 



through the night, but they ceased in the 

 morning, and we set out at the usual hour. 

 The men were very faint from hunger, and 

 marched with difficulty, having to oppose a 

 fresh breeze, and to wade through snow 

 two feet deep. We gained, however, ten 

 miles by four o'clock, and then encamped. 

 The canoe was unfortunately broken by the 

 fall of the person who had it in charge. 

 No tripe de roche was seen to-day, but in 

 clearing the snow to pitch the tents we 

 found a quantity of Iceland moss, which 

 was boiled for supper. This weed, not 

 having been soaked, proved so bitter, that 

 few of the party could eat more than a few 

 spoonfuls. 



Our blankets did not suffice this evening 

 to keep us in tolerable warmth ; the slightest 

 breeze seeming to pierce through our debi- 

 litated frames. The reader will, probably, 

 be desirous to know how we passed our 

 time in such a comfortless situation; the 

 first operation after encamping was to thaw 

 our frozen shoes, if a sufficient fire could 

 be made, and dry ones were put on ; each 



