OF THE POLAR SEA. _ is 
tage to us after we had retired to rest, by its 
affording an additional covering to our blankets. 
The next morning, whilst at breakfast, two men 
arrived from Carlton on their way to Cumber- 
land. Having the benefit of their track, we were, 
to our great joy, able to get on at a quick pace 
without snow shoes. My only regret was, that 
the party proceeded too fast to allow of Mr. Back’s 
halting occasionally, to note the bearings of the 
points, and delineate the course of the river*, 
without being left behind. As the provisions 
were getting short, I could not, therefore, with 
propriety, check the progress by interrupting the 
party ; and, indeed, it appeared to me less ne- 
cessary, as I understood the river had been care- 
fully surveyed. In the afternoon, we had to re- 
sume the incumbrance of the snow-shoes, and to 
pass over a rugged part where the ice had been 
piled over a collection of stones. The tracks of 
animals were very abundant on the river, parti- 
cularly near the remains of an old establishment, 
called the Lower Nippéween. 
So much snow had fallen on the night of the 
24th, that the track we intended to follow was 
completely covered, and our march to-day was 
very fatiguing. We passed the remains of two 
This was afterwards done by Dr. Richardson during a voyage 
to Carlton in the spring. 
