500
but on a fudden the cold became fo very intenfe, as to threaten the moft direful effects.It was very remarkable, that Dr. Solander himfelf, who had fo forcibly admonifhed andalarmed his party, fhould be the firft who infilled upon being fuffered to repofe. Infpite of the molt earned entreaties of his friends, he lay down amidft the fnow, and itwas with great difficulty they kept the doctor awake. One of the black fervants be-came alfo weary and faint, and was upon the point of following the doftor’s example.Mr. Buchan was therefore detached with a party to make a fire at the firft commodiousfpot they could meet with. Mr. Banks , with four more, remained with the Dodtorand Richmond the black, who, with the utmolt difficulty, were induced to come on jbut after walking a few miles farther, they expreffed their inability of proceeding."When the black was informed, that if he remained there he would foon be frozen todeath, he replied, that he was fo exhaufted with fatigue, that death would be a reliefto him. Dr. Solander faid he was not unwilling to go, but that he mull firft takefome fleep, notwithflanding what he had before declared to the company. Thus re-folved, they both fat down, fupported by bufhes, and in a fhort time fell fafl afleep.Intelligence now came from the advanced party, that a fire was kindled about a quarterof a mile farther on the way. Mr. Banks then waked the dodtor, who had almofl loftthe ufe of his limbs already, though it was but a few minutes fince he fat down; heneverthelefs contented to go on. Every meafure taken to relieve the black proved in-effectual ; he remained motionlefs, and they were obliged to leave him to the care ofthe other black fervant and a failor, who appeared to have been the leaft hurt by thecold, and they were to be relieved, as foon as two others were fufficiently warmed toiupply their places. The dodlor was with much difficulty got to the fire. Thofe whowere fent to relieve the companions of Richmond, returned in about half an hourwithout being able to find them. "What rendered the mortification ftill greater was,that a bottle of rum, the whole flock of the party, could not be found, and wasjudged to have been left with one of the three who were miffing. There was a fall offnow which inceffantly continued for near two hours, and there remained no hopes offeeing the three abfentees again, at leaft, alive. About twelve o’clock, however, agreat fhouting was heard at a diftance, which gave inexpreffible fatisfaclion to everyone prefent. Mr. Banks and four others went forth and met the failor, with juftftrength enough to walk ; he was immediately fent to the fire, and they proceeded tofeek for the two others. They found Richmond upon his legs, but incapable of mov-ing them ; the other black was lying fenfelefs upon the ground. All endeavours tobring them to the fire were fruitlefs, nor was it poffible to kindle one upon the fpot,on account of the fnow that had fallen, and was ftill falling, fo that there was no al-ternative, and they were compelled to leave the two unfortunate negroes to their fate,making them, however, a bed of boughs of trees, and covering them very thick withthe fame.
As all hands had been employed in endeavouring to move the two blacks to the fire,and had therefore been expofed to the cold for near an hour and a half, fome of thembegan to be afifidled in the fame manner as thofe they went to relieve. Brifcoe, anotherof Mr. Banks ’s fervants, in particular, began to lofe his fenfibility. They at lengthreached the fire, and there palled the night in a very difagreeable manner. The partythat fet out from the fhip confifted of twelve, of whom two were already judged to bedead: it was doubtful whether a third would be able to return on board ; and Mr.Buchan, a fourth, who had but juft recovered from fits, feetned threatened with themagain. They had wandered fo far into the internal parts, that the fhip was a long day s
journey