334 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 
chain of nine lakes extending to the ‘north-east, 
which we did, and encamped on Icy Portage, 
where the-nets were set. The bottom of the 
valley, through which the track across this port- 
age led, was covered with ice four or five feet 
thick, the remains of a iutge iceberg, which is 
annually formed there, by the snow drifting into 
the valley, and becoming consolidated into ice by 
the overflowing of some Springs that are warm 
enough to resist the winter's cold. The latitude 
is 63° 22 15’ N., longitude 114° 15’ 30” W.- 
We were alarmed in the night by our fire com- 
municating to the dry moss, which, spreading by 
the force of a strong wind, encircled the encamp- 
ment and threatened destruction to our canoes 
and baggage. The watch immediately aroused 
_ all the men, who quickly removed whatever could 
be injured to a distant part, and afterwards suc. 
ceeded in extinguishing the flame. 
- August 8.—During this day we crossed five 
portages, passing over a very bad road. The 
men were quite exhausted with fatigue by five 
-M., when we were obliged to encamp on the 
borders of the fifth lake, in which the fishing nets 
were set. We began this evening to issue some 
portable soup: and arrow-root, which our com- 
panions relished very much; but this food is too 
unsubstantial to support their vigour under their 
