OF THE POLAR SEA. 81 
instrument being placed firmly on a rock, the 
results gaye 83° 14’ 22". The change produced 
by tinrine the face of the instrument was 
12° 50’ 5 
nae was a determined thaw during the last 
three days, which caused the Saskatchawan 
River, and some parts of the lake, to break up, 
and rendered the travelling across either of them 
dangerous. On this account the absence of 
Wilks, one of our men, caused no small anxiety. 
He had incautiously undertaken the charge of 
conducting a sledge and dogs, in company with 
a person, going to Swampy River for fish. On 
their return, being unaccustomed to driving, he 
became fatigued, and seated himself on his 
sledge, in which situation his companion left him, 
presuming that he would soon rise and hasten» 
to follow his track. He however returned safe 
in the morning, and reported that, foreseeing 
night would set in before he could get across 
the lake, he prudently retired into the woods 
before dark, where he remained until day-light ; 
when the men, who had been despatched to look 
for him, met him returning to the house, shiver- 
ing with cold, he having been unprovided with 
the materials for lighting a fire; which an ex- 
perienced voyager never neglects to carry. 
We had mild weather until the oe of De- 
Vou. I. 
* 
