OF THE POLAR SEA. 347 
A fire was made on the south side of the river 
to inform the chief of our arrival, which spread- 
ing before a strong wind, caught the whole wood, 
and we were completely enveloped in a cloud of 
smoke for the three following days. 
On the next morning our voyagers were divided 
into two parties, the one to cut the wood for the 
building of a store-house, and the other to fetch 
the meat as fast as the hunters procured it. An 
interpreter was sent with Keskarrah, the guide, 
to search for the Indians who had made the fire 
seen on Saturday, from whom we might obtain 
some. supplies of provision. An Indian was also 
despatched to Akaitcho, with directions for him 
to come hither directly, and bring whatever pro- 
vision he had, as we were desirous of proceeding, 
without delay, to the Copper-Mine River. In 
the evening our men brought in the carcasses 
of-seven rein-deer, which two hunters had shot 
yesterday, and the women commenced drying the 
meat for our journey. We also obtained a good 
supply of fish from our nets to-day. 
A heavy rain, on the 23d, prevented the men 
from working, either at the building, or going 
for meat; but on the next day the weather was 
fine, and they renewed their labours. The ther- 
mometer, that day did not rise higher than 42°, 
and it fell to 31° before midnight. On the morn- 
