OF THE POLAR SEA. 73. 
rived at Muddy Lake, which is very appro- 
priately named, as it consists merely of a few 
channels, winding amongst extensive mud banks, 
which are overflowed during the spring floods. 
We landed at an Indian tent, which contained 
two numerous families, amounting to thirty souls. 
These poor creatures were badly clothed, and re- 
duced to a miserable condition by the ravages of 
the hooping-cough and measles. At the time of 
our arrival they were busy in preparing a sweat- 
ing-house for the sick. This is a remedy which 
they consider, with the addition of singing and 
drumming, to be the grand specific for all diseases. 
Our companions having obtained some geese, in 
exchange for rum and tobacco, we proceeded a 
few more miles, and encamped on Devil’s Drum 
Island, having come, during the day, twenty 
miles and a half. A second party of Indians 
were encamped on an adjoining island, a situa- . 
tion chosen for the purpose of killing geese and 
ducks. — 
On the 16th we proceeded eighteen miles up 
the Saskatchawan. Its banks are low, covered 
with willows, and lined with drift timber. The 
surrounding country is swampy, and intersected 
by the numerous arms of the river. After pass- 
ing for twenty or thirty yards through the willow 
thicket on the banks of the stream, we entered 
