OF THE POLAR SEA* 



71 



rienced in wading through the deep snow 

 induced us to cross a fnoderate sized lake, 

 which lay in our track, but we found this 

 operation far more harassing. As the sur- 

 face of the ice was perfectly smooth, we 

 slipt at almost every step, and were fre- 

 quently blown down by the wind with such 

 force as to shake our whole frames. 



Poor Fontano was completely exhausted 

 Jby theTabour of this traverse, and we made 

 a halt until his strength was recruited, by 

 which time the party was benumbed with 

 cold. Proceeding again, he got on tolerably 

 well for a little time ; but being again seized 

 with faintnejs and dizziness, he fell often, 

 and at length exclaimed that he could go 

 no further. We immediately stopped, and 

 endeavoured to encourage him to persevere, 

 until we should find some willows to en- 

 camp ; he insisted, however, that he could 

 not . march any longer through this deep 

 snow ; and said, that if he should even 

 reach our encampment this evening, he 

 must be left there, provided tripe de roche 

 could not be procured to recruit his strength. 



