190 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



head, notwithstanding their having been 

 well fed at supper. 



This evening we found the mercury of 

 our thermometer had sunk into the bulb, 

 and was frozen. It rose again into the tube 

 on being held to the fire, but quickly re- 

 descended into the bulb on being removed 

 into the air ; we could not, therefore, ascer- 

 tain by it the temperature of the atmos- 

 phere, either then or during our journey. 

 The weather was perfectly clear. 



January 19. — We arose this morning 

 after the enjoyment of a sound and com- 

 fortable repose, and recommenced our jour- 

 ney at sunrise, but made slow progress 

 through the deep snow. The task of beat- 

 ing the track for the dogs was so very 

 fatiguing, that each of the men took the 

 lead in turn, for an hour and a half. The 

 scenery of the banks of the river improved 

 as we advanced to-day ; some firs and pop- 

 lars were intermixed with the willows. We 

 passed through two creeks, formed by 

 islands, and encamped on a pleasant spot 



