LAST VOYAGE OF CAPT. ROSS. 
669 
for him, made him betake himself to the ice, but he had not pro¬ 
ceeded above fifty yards, when he staggered and fell. A sledge 
was immediately got out, and he was brought to the house. 
This was the third bear, which had been killed in two days, their 
skins proving highly acceptable, as articles of clothing and bed¬ 
ding. In the gall of the latter bear, a substance was found as 
hard as a stone ; he had also been in conflict with another bear, 
as he was very severely wounded in the thigh. 
Early in the month of March, they saw the first dovekey, 
which was shot. It was swimming about in a little pool of 
water left by the tide, and was considerably whiter than they 
are generally found to be. This was, however, attributed to its 
age, it being evidently a very old bird. These birds generally 
make their appearance about the beginning of May, and some- 
times they are as late as the beginning of June; it was, there 
fore, considered to be a very rare thing to see one as early as 
the month of March, and the sailors thence drew the favorable 
omen, that the approaching season w r ould be comparatively 
mild and temperate. Two or three hares were shot about the 
same time, but they were kept for the use of the sick, and 
issued to them in small proportions, for the purpose of making 
a mess. 
The allowance of provisions, that the men had on Fury 
Beach, was nothing more than preserved meats and lime juice, 
which, as an antiscorbutic, was certainly highly beneficial, but, 
as a general beverage, was rather of a weakening nature. 
Amongst the preserved meats, there was a considerable quantity 
of veal, which was the only meat, that the crew did not like. 
Of this meat, every man was allowed a pound for his week’s 
consumption, but before it was distributed, the jelly and the fat, 
that were on the canisters, were taken off for the use of the sick : 
half a pound was distributed on Thursday, and half a pound on 
Sunday, but it was literally as dry as a born, and not a morsel 
of salt wherewith to season it. The officers bad their choice 
of the different meats, as well as meat every morning on the 
breakfast table. About 16 lbs. of tea were brought from the 
ship, for the use of the sick, but the officers used it every 
