OF THE POLAR SEA. 



257 



admission to the wind as before. It is a 

 general custom at the forts to give this sort 

 of coating to the walls at Christmas time. 

 When it was gone, we attempted to remedy 

 its defect, by heaping up snow against the 

 walls. 



January 1, 1821. — This morning our 

 men assembled, and greeted us with the 

 customary salutation on the commencement 

 of the new year. That they might enjoy 

 a holyday, they had yesterday collected 

 double the usual quantity of fire-wood, and 

 we anxiously expected the return of the 

 men from Fort Providence, with some ad- 

 ditions to their comforts. We had stronger 

 hope of their arrival before the evening, as 

 we knew that every voyager uses his ut- 

 most endeavour to reach a post upon, or 

 previous to, the jour de ran, that he may 

 partake of the wonted festivities. It forms, 

 as Christmas is sajd to have done among 

 our forefathers, the theme of their conver- 

 sation for months before and after the pe- 

 riod of its arrival. On the present occasion 

 we could only treat them with a little flour 



VOL. II. s 



