344 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 
meat which had been retarded by the heavy 
showers of rain that fell in the morning, we em- 
barked at one P.M. and crossed two lakes and 
two portages. The last of these was two thou- 
sand and sixty-six paces long, and very rugged, 
so that the men were much fatigued. On the 
next day we received the flesh of four rein-deer 
by the small canoe which had been sent for it 
yesterday, and heard that the hunters had killed 
Several more deer on our route. We saw many - 
of these animals as we passed along to-day; and 
out companions, delighted with the prospect of 
having food in abundance, now began to accom- 
pany their padding with singing, which they had 
discontinued ever since our. provisions became 
scarce. We passed from one small lake to an- 
other over four portages, then crossed a lake about 
six miles in diameter, and encamped on its border, — 
where, finding pines, we enjoyed the luxury of a 
good fire, which we had not done for some days. 
At ten P.M. the Aurora Borealis appeared very 
brilliant in an arch across the zenith, from north- 
west to south-east, which afterwards gave place 
to a beautiful corona borealis. 
August 19.—After crossing a portage of ‘five 
hundred and ninety-five paces, a small lake and 
another portage of two thousand paces, which 
occupied the crews seven hours, we embarked 
