LAST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS, <255 
appeared to be, the transportation of their hoards of fish from 
one station to another ; for it was remarked* that they never 
fixed their habitations twice in the same place, which imposed 
upon them an additional degree of trouble, for it was natural to 
suppose, that they would build their huts where their magazines 
were to be found : on the contrary, they built their huts at a 
distance from their stores, on the principle, we suppose, that it 
is not so well to take the horse to the water, as to bring the water 
to the horse. 
In pursuance of his appointment with the two Esquimaux, 
Commander Ross repaired, after the three seniks, to the fishing 
lake, and, on his arrival there, he found, that his acquaintance 
had been there several hours before him On observing him ap¬ 
proaching, they set up a loud shout of joy, and placed them¬ 
selves in the most grotesque attitudes, pointing to the lake, as if 
declaratory that the cause of their joy was there to be looked 
for. On arriving at the margin of the lake, Commander Ross 
was well able to account for their transports of joy, for the lake 
appeared actually as if it were filled with fish. No time was lost 
in throwing in the seine, and at the first haul they brought out 
8,400! the seine threatening to break every moment, with the 
weight of the fish. There is only one other haul of fish on re¬ 
cord, which can stand the comparison with this most wonderful 
draught of fishes: but the former, was a miracle, the latter, a 
natural occurrence. The tacksmen of the salmon fisheries of 
Scotland, however, would look upon a haul of 3,400 salmon in 
one net, as one of the greatest miracles, that ever happened in 
their country, since their patron Saint Andrew fed, and satisfied 
the hunger of three hundred of their highland countrymen with 
a bullock’s liver. 
The number of men on the sick list were still great; nor was 
their progress to recovery so rapid, as the nature of their com¬ 
plaint had originally led their medical attendant to suppose 
would be the case. Daily exercise was prescribed to them : and 
the facility, with which fresh provisions were obtained, excited 
*he strongest hope, that the complaint would soon yield to the 
