OF THE POLAR SBA, 43 
and its depth, during this day’s voyage, varied 
from three to nine feet. 
_ At sunset we landed, and pitched the tent for 
the’ night, having made a progress of twelve 
miles. A large fire was quickly kindled, supper 
speedily prepared, and as readily despatched; 
when we retired with our buffalo robes on, and 
enjoyed a night of sound repose. 
It may here be stated, that the survey of the 
river was made by taking the bearings of every 
point with a pocket compass, estimating the dis: 
ta and making a connected eye-sketch of the 
whole. This part of the survey was allotted to 
Messrs. Back and Hood conjointly: Mr. Hood 
also protracted the route every evening on a — 
ruled map, after the courses and distances had 
been corrected by observations for latitude and 
longitude, taken by myself as often as the weather 
would allow. The extraordinary talent of this 
young officer in this line of service proved of the 
greatest advantage to the expedition, and he con- 
tinued to perform that duty until his lamented 
death, with a degree of zeal and accuracy that 
characterized all his pursuits. 
- ‘The next morning our camp was in motion at 
five A’M., and we soon afterwards embarked 
with the flattering accompaniment of a fair wind: 
it proved, however, too light to enable us to stem 
