Pursuant to this resolution I set off, accompanied by the guide and H. Hay; leaving D. Henderson to make the best of his way, with the Esquimaux and Pellican.  Having taken but a very small share of the provisions with us, and meeting with no game on the way, we were soon reduced to the utmost extremity.  One of our dogs being starved to death, we were ultimately obliged to knock the surviving one on the head, to supply ourselves with what we considered, in present circumstances, “food for the gods.”  Such as it was, it enabled us to keep soul and body together till we reached Fort Chimo, on the 20th of April, where we found all the Nascopies of this part of the country assembled to greet the arrival of their long-expected friends—­our guides.  I immediately selected a couple of smart-looking lads to go to meet my rear-guard,—­the other servants about the establishment, who were accustomed to snow-shoes, being absent, watching the deer.

On the third day after their departure the couriers returned, with Pellican.  On inquiring of the latter what had become of my men, he replied that he had left them encamped at a lake about sixty miles distant, where the Esquimaux, abandoning himself to despair, could not be prevailed upon to go a step farther; and that he (Pellican) had been sent forward by Henderson to urge on the party whom they expected.  They were within a day’s journey of them; and yet the wretches returned immediately on meeting Pellican, leaving the others to their fate.  No Indians I had ever known would have acted so basely; yet these are an “unsophisticated race” of aborigines, who have but little intercourse with the whites, and must, of course, be free from the contamination of their manners.  Our hunters being now arrived, were sent off, without delay, in quest of the missing; and I had the satisfaction to see my famished compagnons de voyage arrive, on the 26th of April.

CHAPTER IV.

    DISTRESSING BEREAVEMENT—­EXPLORING PARTY—­THEIR
    REPORT—­ARRIVAL OF ESQUIMAUX—­ESTABLISH POSTS—­POUNDING
    REIN-DEER—­EXPEDITION UP GEORGE’S RIVER—­ITS
    DIFFICULTIES—­HAMILTON RIVER—­DISCOVER A STUPENDOUS
    CATARACT—­RETURN BY GEORGE’S RIVER TO THE SEA—­SUDDEN STORM,
    AND MIRACULOUS ESCAPE.

Having thus ascertained the impracticability of the inland communication, I transmitted the result of my observations to the Governor—­a report which, I doubt not, proved rather unpalatable to his Excellency, unaccustomed as he is to have any of his movements checked by that impudent and uncompromising word—­impossible.  I was much gratified to find that the deer-hunt had proved uncommonly successful; so that I had now the means of carrying into effect the Governor’s instructions on this point.  On the approach of spring, preparations were made for establishing a post inland; guides were hired for the purpose, and every precaution taken to insure success.