OF THE POLAR SEA. 



405 



the wolves. The poor fellow was much fatigued, having walked 

 throughout the night, but as the weather was particularly favourable 

 for our crossing the river, we could not allow him to rest. After he 

 had taken some refreshment we proceeded to the river. The canoe 

 being put into the water was found extremely ticklish, but it was 

 managed with much dexterity by St. Germain, Adam, and Peltier, 

 who ferried over one passenger at a time, causing him to lie flat in its 

 bottom, by no means a pleasant position, owing to its leakiness, but 

 there was no alternative. The transport of the whole party was 

 effected by live o'clock, and we walked about two miles further, and 

 encamped, having come five miles and three quarters on a south-west 

 course. Two young alpine hares were shot by St. Germain, which, 

 with the small piece of meat brought in by Junius, furnished the 



supper of the whole party. There was no tripe de roche here. The 

 country had now become decidedly hilly, and was covered with snow. 

 The lake preserved its western direction, as far as I could see from 

 the summit of the highest mountain near the encampment. We 

 subsequently learned from the Copper Indians, that the part at 

 which we had crossed the river was the Congecatha wha chaga of 

 Hearne, of which I had little idea at the time, not only from the 

 difference of latitude, but also from its being so much farther east of 

 the mouth of the Copper- Mine Eiver, than his track is laid down. 

 He only making one degree and three quarters' difference of lon- 

 gitude, and we, upwards of four. Had I been aware of the fact, 

 several days' harassing march, and a disastrous accident would have 

 been prevented by keeping on the western side of the lake, instead 

 of crossing the river. We were informed also, that this river is 

 the Anatessy or Eiver of Strangers, and is supposed to fall into 

 Eathurst's Inlet; but although the Indians have visited its mouth, 

 their description was not sufficient to identify it with any of the 

 rivers whose mouths we had seen. It probably falls in that part of 



