[ ioi ] 
this provision fails, they fall npon and de- 
vour the feals, or other fea-animals, when 
Sleeping on the beach. The raindeer liv r e 
entirely on rriofs, of which thefe defert 
countries produce an incredible plenty. But 
what provifion there is for the foxes we do 
not know. Thefe creatures are known to 
be carnivorous, and on the continent they 
fubfift by catching poultry and hares; but 
as nothing of this kind is to be met with on 
that iiland, it is probable that they feed 
upon the remains of the animals killed, 
and partly confumed by the white bears ; 
as they are not fufficiently frrong to cater 
for themfelves, and to mafter fuch crea- 
tures as are as little able to withfland the 
bears. 
Before I come to the no lefs fortunate 
than unexpected deliverance of our failors 
from their forlorn abode, at a time when 
they thought of nothing butmiferably end- 
ing their days there, I muft mention a cir- 
eumftance which had almoft efcaped me, 
andyet fecms net unworthy of notice. It is 
remark- 
