234 A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



burn and Keskarrah shot several waveys (anas hyperborea,) which 

 afforded us a seasonable supply, our stock of provision being nearly 

 exhausted. These birds were feeding in large flocks on the crow- 

 berries, which grew plentifully on the sides of the hills. We reached 

 the encampment after dark, found a comfortable hut prepared for 

 our reception, made an excellent supper, and retired to bed, and 

 slept soundly though it snowed hard the whole night. 



The hills in this neighbourhood are higher than those about Fort 

 Enterprise ; they stand, however, in the same detached manner, 

 without forming connected ranges ; and the bottom of every valley is 

 occupied, either by a small lake or a stoney marsh. On the borders 

 of such of these lakes as communicate with the Copper-Mine Kiver, 

 there are a few groves of spruce trees, generally growing on accu- 

 mulations of sand, on the acclivities of the hills. 



We did not quit the encampment on the morning of September 

 1 3th until nine o'clock, in consequence of a constant fall of snow ; 



but at that hour we set out on our return to Fort Enterprise, and 

 taking a route somewhat different from the one by which we came, 

 kept to the eastward of a chain of lakes. Soon after noon the weather 

 became extremely disagreeable; a cold northerly gale came on, attended 

 by snow and sleet; and the temperature fell very soon from 43 

 to 34°. The waveys, alarmed at the sudden change, flew over our 

 heads in great numbers to a milder climate. We walked as quickly 

 as possible to get to a place that would furnish some fuel and 

 shelter ; but the fog occasioned us to make frequent halts, from the 

 inability of our guide to trace his way. At length we came to a 

 spot which afforded us plenty of dwarf birches, but they were so 

 much frozen, and the snow fell so thick, that upwards of two hours 

 were wasted in endeavouring to make a fire ; during which time our 

 clothes were freezing upon us. At length our efforts were crowned 

 with success, and after a good supper, we laid, or rather sat down to 



