OF THE POLAR SEA. ,9 



of Belanger on the morning of the 23d, and the 

 Indians, now running into the opposite extreme, 

 were disposed to give us more credit for our 

 judgment than we deserved. They had had a 

 tedious and fatiguing journey to Fort Providence, 

 and for some days were destitute of provisions. 



Belanger arrived alone ; he had walked con- 

 stantly for the last six-and-thirty hours, leaving 

 his Indian companions encamped at the las^t 

 woods, they being unwiUing to accompany him 

 across the barren grounds during the storm that 

 had prevailed for several days, and blew with 

 unusual violence on the morning of his arrival. 

 His locks were matted with snow, and he was 

 incrusted with ice from head to foot, so that we 

 scarcely recognised him when he burst in upon 

 us. We welcomed him with the usual shake of 

 the hand, but were unable to give him the glass 

 of rum which every voyager receives on his 

 arrival at a trading post. 



As soon as his packet was thawed, we eagerly 

 opened it to obtain our English letters. The 

 latest were dated on the preceding April. They 

 came by way of Canada, and were brought up 

 in September to Slave Lake by the North- West 

 Company's canoes. 



We were not so fortunate with regard to our 

 stores ; of ten pieces, or bales of 90lbs. weight, 



