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(p. 394)
August 23. - "A severe frost caused us to pass a comfortless night.
At two P.M. we set sail, and the men voluntarily launched out to
make a traverse of fifteen miles across Melville Sound, before a
strong wind and heavy sea. The privation of food, under which
our voyagers were then labouring, absorbed every other terror;
otherwise the most powerful persuasion could not have induced
them to attempt such a traverse. It was with the utmost difficulty
that the canoes were kept from turning their broadsides to the
waves, though we sometimes steered with all the paddles. One of
them narrowly escaped being overset by this accident, happening
in mid-channel, where the waves were so high that the mast-head
of our canoe was often hid from the other, though it was sailing
within hail. The annexed plate, from Mr. Back’s sketch, will convey
to the reader an accurate idea of the peril of our situation."
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