ANIMALS MET WITH. QCjQ 



heavy rain which overflowed the low swampy 

 ground that declined to the river, swelled the 

 brooks and rivulets to a depth that made it 

 hazardous to wade across them, and in other 

 ways considerably harassed the portage work. 

 Having traversed another small lake with the 

 sledges, we encamped at the head of a long 

 rapid and portage, to save the pemmican from 

 getting damaged by the rain, which fell without 

 intermission or check throughout the whole clay. 



A few partridges, some deer, and numbers of 

 lemmings were seen ; and I remarked that the 

 latter burrowed under the roots of the dwarf 

 birch, and sometimes of the willow, in preference 

 to the large stones on the plain, possibly to 

 obtain more cover from the piercing eyes of 

 their great enemies, the white and brown owls. 

 The willows were without catkins, or any budding 

 at the extremities of the branches. 



June 30. — The labour was resumed at an 

 early hour, though the sky was still enveloped 

 in mist or fog ; but the immense boulders, half 

 blocking up the narrow parts of the rapid, pre- 

 sented impediments which greatly increased the 

 difficulty and the tediousness of our progress. 

 Taking with me a couple of hands, I preceded 

 the party ; and having got on the ice by means 

 of the boat, we soon came to a cache of three 

 deer which were placed on the track. Passing 



