Mike Adkinson

On the 10th of September these ice-bound voyagers had eighteen degrees
of frost, and the darkness had advanced on them so rapidly that it was
dark about ten at night.  By the 1st of October the ice round the brig
was a foot and a half thick.  Up to this time they had shot white hares
on the island, and the hunting parties that crossed the ice to the
mainland shot deer and musk oxen, and caught white foxes in traps.
Gulls and other birds, too, had continued to fly around them; but most
of these went away to seek warmer regions farther south.  Walrus and
seals did not leave so soon.  They remained as long as there was any
open water out at sea.  The last birds that left them, (and the first
that returned in spring) were the "snow-birds"--little creatures about
the size of a sparrow, almost white, with a few brown feathers here and
there.  The last of these fled from the darkening winter on the 7th of
November, and did not return until the 1st of the following May.  When
they left it was dark almost all day.  The thermometer could scarcely be
read at noon, and the stars were visible during the day.  From this time
forward thick darkness set in, and the cold became intense.  The
thermometer fell _below_ zero, and after that they never saw it _above_
that point for months together--20 degrees, 30 degrees, and 40 degrees
below were common temperatures.  The ice around them was ten feet thick.
On the 1st of December noon was so dark that they could not see fifty
yards ahead, and on the 15th the fingers could not be counted a foot
from the eyes.  The thermometer stood at 40 degrees below zero.

The _Cross-Bow_ (as I said in the Introduction to this _Treatise_) is of
equal Benefit and Pleasure with the _Long-Bow_, when through an
imbecillity in the _Arm_ or _Back_, that will not be a suitable
Recreation: This _Bow_ must be made of the same Wood with the other, for
_Gafel_ carried upon a string, and the other end being placed in a Rest,
furnish your self with strong and heavy _Arrows_, suitable to your
_Bows_ strength, and all the foregoing _Marks_, may afford you an equal
Delight with the Former; but especially for Persons that have the
unhappiness of looking asquint, it is an excellent Disposer of the
sight, to a direct Line, and helps that _Watermans_ quality of _Looking
one way, and Rowing another_. Thus much shall suffice for _Shooting_.

Having observed this well, lead him forth into some soft or new Plowed
Land, and to take off his wanton knavish Tricks, trot him about in your
hand a good while: Then offer to Mount; if he refuse to suffer you, Trot
him again; then putting your foot into the _Styrrop_, mount half way; if
he takes it impatient, correct him, and about again; if not cherish him,
and place your self a moment in the Saddle, dismount, cherish, and feed
him with _Grass_, or _Bread_: All things being well, remount, even in
the Saddle, keeping your Rod from his Eye; then let one lead him by the
_Chaff-Halter_, and ever and a-non make him stand, and cherish him, till
he will of his one accord go forward; then come home, alight gently, and
do a good Horsemans Duty, _To dress and feed him well_. This Course in
few dayes will bring him to Trot, by following some other Horseman, stop
him now and then gently, and forward; not forgetting seasonable
_Cherishings_ and _Corrections_, by _Voice_, _Bridle_, _Rod_, _Spurs_.

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