﻿1848. FINE CLUMP OF TREES. 331 



Perceiving then by the remains of the raft that 

 we had crossed, they traced our foot-marks, and, 

 following with their utmost speed, reached our 

 bivouack on the rock two days after we left it. 



Commencing the day's march at half-past four in 

 the morning of the 12th, we came to a tributary of 

 the Kendall at eight. In fording this, the water came 

 up to our waists, and we were all more or less 

 benumbed ; but a few trees on the bank furnished 

 us with the means of making good fires ; and by 

 the time that we had finished breakfast we were 

 comfortably dry. A meridional observation gave 

 us lat. 67° 09' N. 



At two we came to another branch of the Kendall, 

 which runs through a ravine of red and spotted 

 sandstone, under whose shelter there grew a re- 

 markably fine grove of white spruces. The best- 

 grown tree measured sixty-three inches in circum- 

 ference, and did not taper perceptibly for twenty 

 feet from its root. Its total height was from forty 

 to fifty feet. Other trees of equal girth tapered 

 more, and one decayed trunk, which lay on the 

 ground, looked to be considerably thicker. We 

 encamped in this snug place, and Mr. Rae and 

 Albert, employing the evening in the chase, killed 

 a rein-deer and some snow geese. 



Mr. Rae endeavoured in the winter to measure 

 the height of the creek on which we encamped this 



