OF THE POLAR SEA. 259 



ing. They had been twenty-one days on 

 their march from Slave Lake, and the la- 

 bour they underwent was sufficiently evinced 

 by their sledge -collars having worn out the 

 shoulders of their coats. Their loads 

 weighed from sixty to ninety pounds each, 

 exclusive of their bedding and provisions, 

 which at starting must have been at least 

 as much more. We were much rejoiced at 

 their arrival, and proceeded forthwith to 

 pierce the spirit cask, and issue to each of 

 the household the portion of rum which had 

 been promised on the first day of the year. 

 The spirits, which were proof, were frozen, 

 but after standing at the fire for some time 

 they flowed out of the consistency of honey. 

 The temperature of the liquid, even in this 

 state, was so low as instantly to convert into 

 ice the moisture which condensed on the 

 surface of the dram-glass. The fingers also 

 adhered to the glass, and would doubtless 

 have been speedily frozen had they been 

 kept in contact with it; yet each of the 

 voyagers swallowed his dram without ex- 

 s 2 



