408 A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



mities could be seen, and as the portion which lay to the east 

 seemed the widest, we coasted along to the westward portion in 

 search of a crossing-place. This lake being bounded by steep and 

 lofty hills, our inarch was very fatiguing. Those sides which were 

 exposed to the sun, were free from snow, and we found upon them 

 some excellent berries. We encamped at six P.M., having come 

 only six miles and a half. Credit was then missing, and he did not 

 return during the night. We supped off a single partridge and 

 some tripe de roche; this unpalatable weed was now quite nau- 

 seous to the whole party, and in several it produced bowel com- 

 plaints. Mr. Hood was the greatest sufferer from this cause. This 

 evening we were extremely distressed, at discovering that our im- 

 provident companions, since we left Hood's Kiver, had thrown 

 away three of the fishing-nets, and burnt the floats ; they knew we 

 had brought them to procure subsistence for the party, when the 

 animals should fail, and we could scarcely believe the fact of their 

 having wilfully deprived themselves of this resource, especially 

 when we considered that most of them had passed the greater part of 

 their servitude in situations where the nets alone had supplied them 

 with food. Being thus deprived of our principal resource, that of 

 fishing, and the men evidently getting weaker every day, it became 

 necessary to lighten their burthens of every thing except ammuni- 

 tion, clothing, and the instruments that were required to find our 

 way. I, therefore, issued directions to deposit at this encampment 

 the dipping needle, azimuth compass, magnet, a large thermometer, 

 and a few books we had carried, having torn out of these such parts 

 as we should require to work the observations for latitude and 

 longitude. I also promised, as an excitement to the efforts in 

 hunting, my gun to St. Germain, and an ample compensation to 

 Adam, or any of the other men who should kill any animals. 

 Mr. Hood, on this occasion, lent his gun to Michel, the Iroquois, 

 who was very eager in the chase, and often successful. 



