448 
LAST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS. 
the ship, on a shooting excursion, and seldom they returned, 
without a considerable booty. They discovered, that the geese 
had begun to lay on the margin of the lakes, and their eggs 
formed a dainty and wholesome repast. The eggs, on being 
weighed, were found on an average to be 4| ounces—of a 
dingy white, faintly speckled; and the discovery of a goose’s 
nest, where the process of incubation had not begun, was 
regarded by them in the light of a treasure; to the natives 
however, it appeared to be a matter of very trifling import, 
whether the egg were fresh laid, or whether it were within a 
few days of being hatched; half a dozen eggs beaten up with 
the young ones, in all the stages of their growth, from the first 
development of the form, to the complete formation of the fetus, 
proved to the natives, what a dish of callipash and callipee is 
to the gormandizing alderman; nor were they very particular, as 
to the embryos being wholly divested of the shells, for the latter 
appeared to be nearly of the same use, as beans in the feed of a 
horse, to force him to masticate the oats more thoroughly. 
The quantity of fowl, which was daily brought to the ship, 
proved of essential service, not only in promoting the health of 
the crew, by affording them a regular supply of fresh food, 
but it tended to husband the resources of the ship, which, as 
they were ignorant of the duration of their voyage, was a matter 
of serious consideration. 
Trifling as was the information, whicli Cap! Ross had 
obtained on a former expedition, he determined on another 
excursion, which the sailors designated by the appropriate 
appellation of a tramp, which, in their vocabulary, signified a 
journey without knowing the place, to which their course was 
to be directed. Accordingly, early on the morning of the 29th, 
a party were sent forward to the distance of about 9 miles, with 
the boat, provisions, &c„ and having deposited them in a certain 
place, some of the men were to return to the ship, whilst the 
remainder were to await the arrival of Capt. Ross. During the 
absence of the men from the ship, an Esquimaux arrived with 
his wife and two children, bringing with them a small salmon 
of the weight of 10 ounces. The fish was immediately delivered 
