224 BACK'S LAND EXPEDITION. 



up our thanks to that merciful Providence which, in 

 the beautiful language of Scripture, hath said, ' Mine 

 own will I bring again, as I did sometime from the 

 deeps of the sea.' 



On the 7th of June, Back and Mr. King left Fort Re- 

 liance for the Polar Sea. Their boat, thirty feet long, 

 was placed on runners, and dragged over the yet im- 

 melted ice of the lakes and swamps. A singular fact 

 in regard to temperature is mentioned. About the end 

 of May, just before they set out, the weather was sul- 

 try, the temperature in the sun being 106 ! an extraor- 

 dinary contrast to that of January 17th, when it was 

 70 below zero. They now experienced some cold and 

 foggy weather. McLeod, with a party of Indians, was 

 sent on ahead to hunt and make caches of the meat, to 

 be picked up as the main party behind came up to 

 them. 



On the 28th of June they were fairly launched on the 

 head waters of the Thlew-ee-choh. From this time till 

 their approach to the sea, a constant succession of falls, 

 and rapids, and cataracts, more or less obstructed their 

 progress, and, as Back says, " made him hold his breath, 

 expecting to see the boat dashed to shivers against 

 eome protruding rocks amid the foam and fury at the 

 foot of a rapid. " In passing down one of these, where 

 the river was full of large rocks and bowlders, the boat 

 was obliged to be lightened ; and Back says, " I stood 

 on a high rock, with an anxious heart, to see her run it. 

 Away they went with the speed of an arrow, and in a 

 moment the foam and rocks hid them from my view. I 

 heard what sounded in my ear like a wild shriek ; I fol- 

 lowed with an agitation which may be conceived, and, 

 to my inexpressible joy, found that the shriek was th 

 triumphant whoop of the crew, who had landed safely 

 in a small bay below." In short, strong and heavy 



