OF THE POLAR SEA. 



269 



since he left us, a journey of more than one thousand miles on foot. 

 I had every reason to be much pleased with his conduct on this 

 arduous undertaking ; but his exertions may be best estimated by the 

 perusal of the following narrative of his proceedings : 



On quitting Fort Enterprise, with Mr. Wentzel and two Cana- 

 dians, accompanied by two hunters and their wives, our route lay 

 across the barren hills. We saw, during the day, a number of deer, 

 and, occasionally, a solitary white wolf ; and in the evening halted 

 near a small knot of pines. Owing to the slow progress made by 

 the wives of the hunters, we only travelled the first day a distance 

 of seven miles and a half. During the night we had a glimpse of 

 the fantastic beauties of the Aurora Borealis, and were somewhat 

 annoyed by the wolves, whose nightly howling interrupted our re- 

 pose. Early the next morning we continued our march, sometimes 

 crossing small lakes (which were just frozen enough to bear us), and 

 at other times going large circuits, in order to avoid those which 

 were open. The walking was extremely bad throughout the day ; 

 for, independent of the general unevenness of the ground, and the 

 numberless large stones which lay scattered in every direction, the 

 unusual warmth of the weather had dissolved the snow, which not 

 only kept us constantly wet, but deprived us of a firm footing, so 

 that the men, with their heavy burdens, were in momentary appre- 

 hension of falling. In the afternoon a fine herd of deer was des- 



and the Indians, who are always anxious for the chase, and 

 can hardly be restrained from pursuing every animal which they 

 see, set out immediately. It was late when they returned, having 

 had good success, and bringing with them five tongues, and the 

 shoulder of a deer. We made about twelve miles this day. The 

 nisht was fine, and the Aurora Borealis so vivid, that we imagined, 



