410 LAST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS. 
The stench in the interior of the huts was scarcely to be 
borne; and it was a matter of wonder to many, how the former 
inmates could have escaped those maladies, which are the con¬ 
sequence of continually inhaling a pestiferous atmosphere. In 
one corner of the hut was an elevation of snow, which had been 
the bed of the inhabitants, and it was made large in proportion 
to the number of the inmates. In the hut, which had been oc¬ 
cupied by the entire family, as already mentioned, the bed 
occupied nearly half of the hut; it being thence evident, that 
father, mother, son and daughter, with their children, had but 
one resting place for all, the snow above, and the snow below ; 
and yet, if their hunger could be satisfied, the day seemed to 
pass over them, without bringing with it any of the cares and 
anxieties, which accompany the toil and drudgery of the civi¬ 
lized being. The satisfaction of their animal wants appears 
to be the only object of their life ; and those being supplied, 
they enjoy the repose of the satisfied animal, and awake only to 
make the best of their resources, whenever their appetite preys 
upon them. 
An accident befel one of the men, on this day, who fell into 
the main hold, but he escaped with only a few bruises. 
For some time, some secret murmurs had been heard amongst 
the crew,relative to the shortness of their provisions; for, whilst 
the table of the cabin was daily supplied with all the dainties, 
which the ship could afford, or the chase could supply ; the crew 
were put upon a contracted allowance; at the same time, 
that the stock of provisions on board, did not require, that any 
change should be made in the quantity of food allotted to 
them. Fii ding that there was not likely to be any alteration 
made to their allowance, the crew made a formal complaint, oi> 
the 19th; and although it was first met with something like 
anger, and an accusation of an unfounded charge, yet, on the 
crew assuming a peremptory tone, it was judged advisable to 
accede to their demand, and the customary allowance was al¬ 
lotted to them. On this subject, the conduct of Capt. Ross met 
w ith the reprehension of those, who, in other respects, were dis¬ 
posed to regard his general conduct with indulgence and lenity. 
