OF THE POLAR SEA. 



203 



pursued a northerly course, but had to 

 make a considerable circuit round the 

 western ends of two lakes, whose eastern 

 extremities were hidden from our view. 

 The march was very uncomfortable, as the 

 wind w r as cold, and there was a constant 

 fall of snow until noon; our guide, too, 

 persisted in taking us over the summit of 

 every hill that lay in the route, so that we 

 had the full benefit of the breeze. 



We forded two streams in the afternoon 

 flowing between small lakes, and being wet, 

 did not much relish having to halt whilst 

 Keskarrah pursued a herd of rein-deer; 

 but there was no alternative, as he set off 

 and followed them without consulting our 

 wishes. The old man loaded himself with 

 the skin and some meat of the animal he 

 killed, in addition to his former burden ; 

 but after walking two miles, finding his 

 charge too heavy for his strength, he spread 

 the skin on the rock, and deposited the 

 meat under some stones, intending to pick 

 them up on our return. 



We put up at sunset on the borders of a 



