ceeded slowly on the surface of the river, which is about three hundred
and fifty yards wide, for the distance of six miles, which we
went this day. Its alluvial banks and islands are clothed with willows.
At the place of our encampment we could scarcely find sufficient pine
branches to floor “ the hut,” as the. Orkney men term the place where
travellers rest. Its preparation, however, consists only in clearing
away the snow ' to the ground, and covering that- space with pine
branches, over which the party spread their blankets and coats, and
sleep in warmth and comfort, by keeping a good fire at their feet,
without any other canopy than the heaven, even though the thermometer
should be far below zero.
The arrival at the place of encampment gives immediate occupation
to every one of the party ; and it is not until the sleeping-place
has been arranged, and a sufficiency of wood collected as fuel for the
night, that the fire is allowed to be kindled. The dogs alone remain
inactive during this busy scene, being kept harnessed to their burdens
until the men have leisure to unstow j the sledges, and hang
upon the trees every species of provision out of their reach. We
had ample expérience, before morning, of the necessity of this precaution,
as they contrived to steal a considerable part of our stores,
almost from underneath Hepburn’s head, notwithstanding their
having been well fed at supper.
This evening we found the mercury of our thermometer had sunk
into the bulb, and was frozen. It rose again into the tube on being
held to the fire, but quickly re-descended into the bulb on being
removed into the air ; we could not, therefore, ascertain by it the
temperature of the atmosphere, either then or during our journey.
The weather was perfectly clear.
January 19.—We arose this morning after the enjoyment of a
sound and comfortable repose, and recommenced our journey at sunrise,
but made slow progress through the deep snow. The task of beating
the track for the dogs was so very fatiguing, that each of the
men took the lead in turn, for an hour and a half. The scenery of
o