10 APPENDIX, NO. I, 



two or three miles, others striking inland. Divided the 

 party into three watches, those on guard under arms during 

 the night. 



23d. Wind westerly, wild cold weather. At day-light 

 renewed our journey : the river now shoaled and ran ra- 

 pidly ; I wished to have forded it, conceiving that the In- 

 dians inhabited the other side, but found it impracticable. 

 At 10 A.M. having advanced six miles, and seeing the im- 

 possibility of proceeding farther with the sledges, I divided 

 the party, leaving one-half to take care of the stores, whilst 

 the other accompanied me; and taking with us four days^* pro- 

 visions, we renewed our route ; the river now winded more 

 northerly. Having proceeded on about four miles, we ob- 

 served on the south side a path in the snow, where a canoe 

 had evidently been hauled across to get above a rattle, this 

 being the only sure indication we had discovered of their 

 having passed upwards from the. store on the south side. — - 

 The river narrowed, ran irregularly, and diminished in depth 

 very considerably. Having passed several small rivers on 

 this side, we came abreast of an iskind, opposite to which, 

 on the south side, there was a path in the snow from the 

 water, ascending a bank where the trees were very recently 

 cut, clearly evincing the residence of the natives to be at no 

 great distance; but it being impossible to ford the river at this 

 place, we continued on, but had not gone more than a mile, 

 when, on turning a point, an expansive view opened out, and 

 we saw before us an immense lake extending in a N.E. and 

 S.W. direction, its surface a smooth sheet of ice. We per- 

 ceived tracks, but could not be certain whether of deer or 

 men. On approaching the lake or pond, we discovered on 

 its north-west side two objects in motion, but were uncer- 

 tain whether they were men or quadrupeds. I drew the 

 party suddenly into the wood to prevent discovery, and di- 

 recting them to prepare a place for the night, I went on 

 with Cull to reconnoitre. Having skirted along the woods for 

 nearly two miles, we posted ourselves in a position to ob- 



