124, A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



been sent to the Indian lodges for meat, and who were to go on with 

 us. Mr. Back and I did not need this rest, having completely sur- 

 mounted the pain which the walking in snow-shoes had occasioned. 

 We dined twice with Mr. Cameron, and received from him many useful 

 suggestions respecting our future operations. This gentleman having 

 informed us that provisions would, probably, be very scarce next 

 spring in the Athabasca department, in consequence of the sickness 

 of the Indians during the hunting season, undertook at my request 

 to cause a supply of pemmican to be conveyed from the Saskatchawan 

 to Isle & la Crosse for our use during the winter, and I wrote to 

 apprize Dr. Kichardson and Mr. Hood, that they would find it at 

 the latter post when they passed ; and also to desire them to bring 

 as much as the canoes would stow from Cumberland. 



The atmosphere was clear and cold during our stay ; observations 

 were obtained at the Hudson Bay fort, lat. 54° 16' 10" N., long. 

 307° 29' 52" W., var. 22° 6' 36" E. 



February 20. — Having been equipped with carioles, sledges, and 

 provisions, from the two posts, we this day recommenced our 

 journey, and were much amused by the novelty of the salute given 

 at our departure, the guns being principally fired by the half-breed 

 women in the absence of the men. Our course was directed to the 

 end of the lake, and for a short distance along a small river'; we then 

 crossed the woods to the beaver river, which we found to be narrow 

 and very serpentine, having moderately high banks. We encamped 

 about one mile and a half further up among poplars. The next day 

 we proceeded along the river ; it was winding, and about two hundred 

 yards broad. We passed the mouths of two rivers whose waters it 

 receives ; the latter one, we were informed, is a channel by which 

 the Indians go to the Lesser Slave Lake. The banks of the river 

 became higher as we advanced, and were furnished with pines, pop- 

 lars, and willows. 



Though the weather was very cold, we travelled more comfortably 



