264 EASTERN SHORE 



tion, unless timely measures were adopted to 

 prevent it. Iron seemed to be the only effectual 

 defence, but we had none left, except one large 

 saw, which it was thought might answer, if the 

 carpenters could manage to cut it into the proper 

 breadths and lengths. 



Our prospect of reaching the portage of the 

 Thlew-ee-choh on the ice depended entirely on 

 the soundness of our tackle, and this early assault 

 on the wood showed me the necessity of devising 

 some method of protecting it, either with the 

 saw, or, failing that, with reindeer horn, bones, 

 or binders of birch. We halted, consequently, 

 at the end of six miles ; and the people, after a 

 couple of hours' rest, returned to Mr. King, who 

 was desired to set the carpenters immediately to 

 work about the saw, and to join me as soon as 

 convenient with the rest of our provision. This, 

 indeed, made the bulk of our baggage ; for in 

 services like this only a very limited wardrobe 

 can be allowed ; and having set the example of 

 taking only one change of linen, flannels, and 

 a few pair of moccassins for my own use, the 

 others were, of course, obliged to submit to a 

 correspondent limitation. 



The eastern shore of Artillery Lake, which 

 we now followed, was less rocky than its opposite, 

 being composed principally of smooth rounded 

 hills, covered with verdure and large stones, many 



