OF THE POLAR SEA. 



53 



they refused to pick tripe de roche, choosing 

 rather to go entirely without eating than to 

 make any exertion. The party which went 

 for gum returned early in the morning 

 without having found any ; but St. Germain 

 said he could still make the canoe with the 

 willows covered with canvass, and removed 

 with Adam to a clump of willows for that 

 purpose. Mr. Back accompanied them to 

 stimulate his exertion, as we feared the 

 lowness of his spirits would cause him to 

 be slow in his operations. Augustus went 

 to fish at the rapid, but a large trout having 

 carried away his bait, we had nothing to 

 replace it. 



The snow-storm continued all the night, 

 and during the forenoon of the 3d. Having 

 persuaded the people to gather some tripe 

 de roche, I partook of a meal with them; 

 and afterwards set out with the intention of 

 going to St. Germain to hasten his opera- 

 tions, but though he was only three quarters 

 of a mile distant, I spent three hours in a 

 vain attempt to reach him, my strength 

 being unequal to the labour of wading 



