/ 



OF THE POLAR SEA. 



139 



department consider themselves as very superior to any other. The 

 only reasons which he could assign were, that they had borne their 

 burdens across the terrible Methye Portage, and that they were 

 accustomed to live harder and more precariously. 



March 25. — Having now the guidance of the old Canadian, we 

 sent forward the Indian, and one of our men, with letters to the 

 gentleman at the Athabasca lake. The rest of the party set off 

 afterwards, and kept along the river until ten, when we branched 

 off by portages into the Embarras River, the usual channel of com- 

 munication in canoes with the lake. It is a narrow and serpentine 

 stream, confined between alluvial banks which support pines, poplars, 

 and willows. We had not advanced far before we came up with the 

 two men despatched by us this morning. The stormy weather 

 had compelled them to encamp, as there was too much drifting of 

 the snow for any attempt being made to cross the lake. We were 

 obliged, though most reluctantly, to follow their example; but we 

 comforted ourselves with the reflection that this was the first time 

 we had been stopped by the weather during our long journey, which 

 was so near at an end. The gale afterwards increased, the squalls 

 at night became very violent, disburthened the trees of the snow, 

 and gave us the benefit of a continual fall of patches from them, 

 in addition to the constant shower. We therefore quickly despatched 

 our suppers, and retired under the shelter of our blankets. 



March 26. — The boisterous weather continued through the night, 

 and it was not before six this morning, that the wind became appa- 

 rently moderate and the snow ceased. Two of the Canadians were 

 immediately sent off with letters to the gentlemen at Fort Chipewyan. 

 After breakfast we also started, but our Indian friend, having a 

 great indisposition to move in such weather, remained by the fire. 

 We soon quitted the river, and after crossing a portage, a small lake, 

 and a point of land, came to the borders of the Mam-ma-wee Lake. 

 We then found our error as to the strength of the wind ; and that the 



T 2 



