. Narrative of a journey to the shores of the Polar Sea, in the years 1819, 20, 21, and 22 [microform]. Scientific expeditions; Expéditions scientifiques. OF THE POLAR SEA. 461 grcss was much impeded by the great depth of the snow in the val- leys. Although every spot of ground over which we travelled to-day, had been repeatedly trodden by us, yet we got bewildered in a small lake. We took it for Marten Lake, which was three times its size, and fancied that we saw the rapid and the grounds about the fort, although they were still far distant. Our disappointment when this illusion was dispelled
. Narrative of a journey to the shores of the Polar Sea, in the years 1819, 20, 21, and 22 [microform]. Scientific expeditions; Expéditions scientifiques. OF THE POLAR SEA. 461 grcss was much impeded by the great depth of the snow in the val- leys. Although every spot of ground over which we travelled to-day, had been repeatedly trodden by us, yet we got bewildered in a small lake. We took it for Marten Lake, which was three times its size, and fancied that we saw the rapid and the grounds about the fort, although they were still far distant. Our disappointment when this illusion was dispelled, by our reaching the end of the lake, so operated on our feeble minds as to exhaust our strength, and we decided upon encamping; but upon ascending a smaD eminence to look for a clump of wood, we caught a glimpse of the Big-Stone, a well known rock upon the summit of a hill opposite to the Fort, and determined upon proceeding. In the evening we saw several large herds of rein-deer, but Hepburn, who used to be considered a gocd marksman, was now unable to hold the gun straight, and although he got near them all his efforts proved fruitless. In passing through a small clump of pines we saw a flock of partridges, and he suc- ceeded in kiUing one after firing several shots. We came in sight of the fort at dusk, and it is impossible to describe our sensations, when on attaining the eminence that overlooks it, we beheld the smoke issuing from one of the chimneys. From not having met with any footsteps in the snow, as we drew nigh our once cheerful residence, we had been agitated by many melancholy forebodings. Upon entering the now desolate building, we had the satisfaction of embracing Captain Franklin, but no words can convey an idea of the filth and wretchedness that met our eyes on looking around. Our own misery had stolei. upon us by degrees, and we were accus- tomed to the contemplation of each other's emaciated figures, but the ghastly countenances, dilated eye-balls, and se
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, booksubjectscientificexpeditions, bookyear1823
