THE BOATS FINISHED. 26l 



snow encumbered the banks or borders of the 

 rocks ; and the ice on the lake had not decayed 

 nearly so much as was observed at the same 

 season of the year in 1821 at Point Lake, more 

 than two degrees to the north. 



Tracks of deer were visible at different points ; 

 and leading from these tracks the Indians had 

 placed rows of moss on the ice, to keep the 

 timid animals in a particular direction. In 

 the evening we reached the bay, and found 

 that the carpenters had just completed the 

 boats, which, considering the knotty and in- 

 different material of which they were construct- 

 ed, did much credit to the builders. They were 

 precisely such as I required ; being sharp at both 

 ends, with good beam, and plenty of floor for 

 stowage : my only apprehension was that they 

 were weak. The one selected for the voyage 

 was thirty feet over all, and twenty-four feet 

 keel : extra oars, masts, tiller, &c. were pre- 

 pared, and the bottom of the boat was paid over 

 with a coating of tar. I ought to mention, also, 

 that in conformity with my directions, the lower 

 part was carvel, and the upper part clinker- 

 built ; for as the carpenters were neither of 

 them strong enough to be included, however 

 desirable it might have been, in the number of 

 my picked crew for the expedition to the sea, 

 I thought that, in case x)f accident, the former 



s S 



