OF THE POLAR SEA, fae 
CHAPTER VIL. 
ee from So 8 omega of the various Navigations 
he Rivers, and Lakes, and of the Portages—Slave Lake and 
Se Peitttence Soar of Provisions, and discontent of the 
Canadian Voyagers—Difficulties with regard to the Indian Guides 
—Refusal to proceed—Visit of Observation to the Upper part of 
Keke River—Return to the Winter-Quarters of Fort 
nte 
Karty this morning the stores were dis- 
Sate 18. tributed to the three canoes. Our stock 
of provision unfortunately did not amount to more 
than sufficient for one day’s consumption, exclu- 
sive of two barrels of flour, three cases of pre- 
served meats, some chocolate, arrow-root, and 
portable soup, which we had brought from Eng- 
land, and intended to reserve for our journey to 
the coast the next season. Seventy pounds of 
moose meat and a little barley were all that Mr. 
Smith was enabled to give us. It was gratifying, 
however, to perceive that this scarcity of food 
did not depress the spirits of our Canadian com- 
panions, who cheerfully loaded their canoes, and 
embarked in high glee after they had received 
