OF THE POLAR SEA. 



327 



The fresh meat being expended we had to make another inroad on 

 our pounded meat. The evening was very warm, and the mus- 

 quitoes numerous. A large fire was made to apprize the hunters 

 of our advance. The scenery of Rock-nest Lake is picturesque, its 

 shores are rather low, except at the Rock's-nest, and two or three 

 eminences on the eastern side. The only wood is the pine, which is 

 twenty or thirty feet high, and about one foot in diameter. Our 

 distance to-day was six miles. 



July 1. — Our guide directed us to proceed towards a deep bay on 

 the north side of the lake, where he supposed we should find the 

 river. In consequence of the bad state of the ice, we employed all 

 the different modes of travelling we had previously followed in 

 attaining this place; and, in crossing a point of land, had the mis- 

 fortune to lose one of the dogs, which set off in pursuit of some 

 rein-deer. Arriving at the bay, we only found a stream that fell 

 into it from the north-east, and looked in vain for the Copper-Mine 

 Eiver. This circumstance confused the guide, and he confessed that 

 he was now doubtful of the proper route ; we, therefore, halted, and 

 despatched him, with two men, to look for the river from the top 

 of the high hills near the Nest-rock. During this delay a slight 

 injury was repaired, which one of the canoes had received. We 

 were here amused by the interesting spectacle of a wolf chasing 

 two rein-deer on the ice. The pursuer being alarmed at the sight 

 of our men, gave up the chase when near to the hindmost, much to 

 our regret, for we were calculating upon the chance of sharing in 

 his capture. 



At four P.M. our men returned, with the agreeable information 

 that they had seen the river flowing at the base of the Rock-nest. 

 The canoes and stores were v immediately placed on the ice, and 

 dragged thither ; we then embarked, but soon had to cut through a 

 barrier of drift ice that blocked ' up the way. We afterwards de- 

 scended two strong rapids, and encamped near to the discharge of a 



