[ 67 ] 
rienccd in various inftances. They were 
for fome time reduced to the necefiity 
of eating their meat almoft raw, and with- 
out either bread or fait; for they were 
quite destitute of both. The intenfe- 
nefs of the cold, together with the want 
of proper conveniences, prevented them 
from cooking their victuals in a proper 
manner. There was but oneflovein the 
hut, and that being fet up agreeably to 
the Ruffian taite, was more like an oven, 
and confequently not well adapted for 
boiling any thing. Wood alfo was too 
precious a commodity to be wafted in 
keeping up two fires; and the one they 
might have made out of their habi- 
tation, to drefs their victuals, would in 
no way have ferved to warm them. Ano- 
ther reafon againft their cooking in the 
open air, was the continual danger of an 
attack from the white bears. And here 
I muft obferve, that fuppofe they had 
made the attempt, it would frill have been 
practicable for only fome part of the year; 
for the cold, which in fuch a climate 
K 2 for 
