282 A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



knees and legs, both of which were much swollen when we halted a 

 little above the Dog Kiver, 



December 30 and 31.— Our journey these days was by far the most 

 annoying we had yet experienced ; but, independent of the vast 

 masses of ice that were piled on one another, as well as the nume- 

 rous open places about the rapids (and they did not a little impede 

 us), there was a strong gale from the north-west, and so dreadfully 

 keen, that our time was occupied in rubbing the frozen parts of 

 the face, and in attempting to warm the hands, in order to be 

 prepared for the next operation. Scarcely was one place cured by 

 constant friction than another was frozen ; and though there was 

 nothing pleasant about it, yet it was laughable enough to observe the 

 dexterity which was used in changing the position of the hand from 

 the face to the mitten, and vice versd. One of the men was severely 

 affected, the whole side of his face being almost raw. Towards sun- 

 set I suffered so much in my knee and ancle, from a recent sprain, 

 that it was with difficulty I could proceed with snow-shoes to the 

 encampment on the Stoney Islands. But in this point I was not 

 singular ; for Beauparlant was almost as bad, and without the same 



cause. 



1821. 



We set out with a quick step, the wind still blowing fresh 



January i. from the north- west, which seemed in some measure to invigo- 

 rate the dogs ; for towards sunset they left me a considerable distance 

 behind. Indeed my legs and ancles were now so swelled, that it was 

 excessive pain to drag the snow-shoes after me. At night we halted 

 on the banks of Stoney Kiver, when I gave the men a glass of grog ? 

 to commemorate the new year ; and the next day, January 2, we 

 arrived at Fort Chipeywan, after a journey of ten days and four hours 

 the shortest time in which the distance had been done at the same 

 season of the year. I found Messrs. G. Keith and S. M'Gilliway in 

 charge of the fort, who were not a little surprised to see me. At 







