OF THE POLAR SEA. 119 



Mountain House, sixty miles nearer the source of the river 

 are more severely affected than those at Edmonton. The same 

 disease occurs near the sources of Elk and Peace Kivers; but, in 

 those parts of the country which are distant from the Kocky Moun- 

 tain Chain, it is unknown, although melted snow forms the only 

 drink of the natives for nine months of the year. 



" A residence of a single year at Edmonton is sufficient to render 

 a family bronchocelous. Many of the goitres acquire great size. 

 Burnt sponge has been tried, and found to remove the disease, but 

 an exposure to the same cause immediately reproduces it. 



" A great proportion of the children of women who have goitres, 

 are born idiots, with large heads, and the other distinguishing marks 

 of cretins. I could not learn whether it was necessary that both 

 parents should have goitres, to produce cretin children ; indeed the 

 want of chastity in the half-breed women would be a bar to the 

 deduction of any inference on this head/' 



February 8. — Having recovered from the swellings and pains 

 which our late march from Cumberland had occasioned, we prepared 



for the commencement of our journey to Isle a la Crosse, and requi- 

 sitions were made on both the establishments for the means of con- 

 veyance, and the necessary supply of provisions for the party, which 

 were readily furnished. On the 9th the carioles and sledges were 

 loaded, and sent off after breakfast ; but Mr. Back and I remained till 

 the afternoon, as Mr. Prudens had offered that his horses should con- 

 vey us to the encampment. At 3 P.M. we parted from our kind host, 

 and in passing through the gate were honoured with a salute of mus- 

 ketry. After riding six miles, we joined the men at their encamp- 

 ment, which was made under the shelter of a few poplars. The 

 dogs had been so much fatigued in wading through the very deep 

 snow with their heavy burdens, having to drag upwards of ninety 

 pounds weight each, that they could get no farther. Soon after our 



