allowing him to afford them any assistance for their return, they
commenced their journey homeward with one meal a day, which they
continued until all was gone, when they fed on their dogs; and they
finally arrived at the house without having tasted any kind of food
for three days. Their spectre-like forms excited the greatest pity;
the interpreter, who came to tell me of their arrival, was in tears.
No time was lost in administering relief; but the greatest caution
was necessary in administering it, or the consequences might have been
fatal.

I was mortified to find, on the approach of spring, that my stock of
goods did not admit of supplying the interior; and I was consequently
compelled to relinquish the advantages that had cost us so much to
acquire. Without goods we could not, of course, maintain our position
in that quarter.




CHAPTER VI.

TRIP TO ESQUIMAUX BAY--GOVERNOR'S INSTRUCTIONS--MY REPORT
TO THE COMMITTEE--RECOMMEND THE ABANDONMENT OF UNGAVA
SETTLEMENT--SUCCESS OF THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION, CONDUCTED
BY MESSRS. DEASE AND SIMPSON--RETURN BY SEA TO FORT
CHIMO--NARROWLY ESCAPE SHIPWRECK IN THE UNGAVA RIVER--INHUMAN
AND IMPOLITIC MEASURE OF THE GOVERNOR--CONSEQUENT DISTRESS AT
THE POST.