OF THE POLAR SEA. 207 
grinations to the northward. Having been ap- 
_ prized of our coming, they had prepared an en- 
campment for us; but we had witnessed too many 
proofs of their importunity to expect that we could 
“pass the night near them in any comfort, whilst 
Ps 
either spirits, tobacco, or sugar remained in our 
possession ; and therefore preferred to go about 
two miles further along the river, and to encamp 
among a cluster of fine pine-trees, after a journey 
of sixteen miles. 
On the morning of the 1 5th, in proceeding along 
the river we perceived a strong smell of sulphur, 
and on the north shore found a quantity of it scat- 
tered, which seemed to have been deposited by 
some spring in the neighbourhood: it appeared 
very pure and good. We continued our course 
the whole day along the river, which is about four — 
hundred yards wide, has some islands, and is 
confined between low land, extending from the 
bases of the mountains on each side. We put— 
up at the end of thirteen miles, and were then 
joined by a Chipewyan, who came, as we sup- 
posed, to serve as our guide to Pierre au Calumet, 
_ but as none of the party could communicate with 
our new friend, otherwise than by signs, we 
waited patiently until the morning to see what he 
intended to do, The wind blew a gale during 
the night, and the — fell heavily. The next 
