OF THE POLAR SEA. 53 



*' On the 24th and 25th we underwent some fa- 

 tigue from being obliged to go round the lakes, 

 which lay across our route, and were not suffi- 

 ciently frozen to bear us. Several rivulets ap- 

 peared to empty themselves into the lakes, no 

 animals were killed, and few tracks seen. The 

 scenery consisted of barren rocks and high hills^ 

 covered with lofty pine, birch, and larch trees. 



*' October 26. — We continued our journey, some- 

 times on frozen lakes, and at other times on high 

 craggy rocks. When we were on the lakes we 

 were much impeded in our journey by different 

 parts which were unfrozen. There was a visible 

 increase of wood, consisting of birch and larch, 

 as we inclined to the southward. About ten 

 A.M. we passed Icy Portage, where we saw va- 

 rious tracks of the moose, bear, and otter; and 

 after a most harassing march through thick 

 woods and over fallen trees, we halted a mile to 

 the westward of Fishing Lake ; our provisions 

 were now almost expended; the weather was 

 cloudy with snow. 



" On the 27th w^e crossed two lakes, and per- 

 formed a circuitous route, frequently crossing 

 high hills to avoid those lakes which were not 

 frozen ; during the day one of the women made 

 a hole through the ice, and caught a fine pike* 

 which she gave to us ; the Indians would not 

 partake of it, from the idea (as we afterw^ards 



