164 Intelligence Jrom the Land Arctic Expedition, 



and abounding in fish, its shores well wooded, considering the 

 high latitude, and frequented by moose deer, musk oxen, and 

 rein deer. We have abundant stores for next yearns voyage, but 

 our party is large, and we depend on the fishery and chase for 

 support during the winter, yet hope to fare well. In our ex- 

 cursion of three weeks along the lake, which I made since my 

 arrival, I obtained a boat-load of excellent venison, and our nets 

 have occasionally given us,50 or 60 trout in a-day, weighing each 

 from 20 lb. to 50 lb., besides 200 to 300 of a smaller fish called 

 fresh-water herrings. Notwithstanding all these comforts, the 

 wiser part of us live in some fear ; for any sudden amelioration 

 of the climate, produced by the approach of a comet to the earth, 

 or any other of the commotions amongst the heavenly orbs dread- 

 ed by astronomers, might cause us to be swept into the lake, as, 

 our fort being built on an iceberg, a thaw might prove fatal to its 

 stability. The ground, although it produces trees of consider- 

 able size, is constantly frozen ; the mud with which our house is 

 plastered was dug out by the aid of fires last month, and 

 now, at the close of the summer, the excavation under our hall- 

 floor, which we intended to convert into a cellar, has been work- 

 ed only to the depth of three feet, its walls of clay being frozen 

 as firm, and harder, than a rock. I hope, however, we shall es- 

 cape such a catastrophe, as Moore, in his almanack, says nothing 

 about it; unless, indeed he means to give us a hint, when he says 

 * About this time, before or after, certain northern powers will 

 make some stir in the waters.' 



" I have had no fly-fishing for want of proper tackle. The 

 gigantic trout of this lake would disdain such a mosquito as we 

 were wont to fish with, and I see no pleasure in bobbing for 

 them with a cod hook and cable. One of the monsters might 

 take a fancy to drag the fisherman to his sublacustrine abodes. 



Captain Franklin and Mr Kendall have been to the sea, which 

 they found in Lat. 69° 29', quite clear of ice, on the 16th of 

 August. Mackenzie was very near it in his voyage down the 

 river, which bears his name, but did not reach the salt water, by 

 about thirty miles. They left letters for Captain Parry and his of- 

 ficers from their friends in England, buried at the foot of a pole, 

 on which they suspended a flag. They returned only yesterday, 



