OF THE POLAR SEA. 253 
On the following morning we made an excur- 
‘sion, accompanied by Mr. Smith, round the fish: 
ing stations on the south side of the lake, for the 
purpose of visiting our men: we passed several 
groups of women and children belonging to both 
the forts, posted wherever they could find a suf. 
ficiently dry spot for an encampment. At length 
we came to our men, pitched upon a narrow strip 
of land, situated between two rivers. Though 
the portion of dry ground did not exceed fifty 
yards, yet they appeared to be living very com- 
fortably, having formed huts with the canoes’ sail 
and covering; and were amply supported by the 
fish their nets daily furnished. - They sometimes 
had a change in their fare, by procuring a few 
ducks and other water fowl, which resort in great 
abundance to the marshes, by which they were 
surrounded. » Y 
July 2.—The canoe, which was ordered to be 
built for our use, was finished. As it was con- 
structed after the manner, which has been ac- 
curately described by Hearne, and several of the 
American travellers, a detail of the process will 
be unnecessary. Its extreme length was thirty- 
two feet six inches, including the bow and stern 
pieces, its greatest breadth was four feet ten 
i , but it was only two feet nine inches for- 
ward where the bowman sat, and two feet four 
