OF THE POLAR SEA. 65 



inclinations of the gentlemen there. With this 

 view I communicated my intentions to both 

 parties ; but could only get dogs enough from 

 the North- West Company to carry the necessary 

 provisions for the journey. Indeed Mr. Smith 

 informed me plainly he was of opinion that 

 nothing could be spared at Fort Chipewyan; 

 that goods had never been transported so long a 

 journey in the winter season, and that the same 

 dogs could not possibly go and return ; besides, 

 it was very doubtful if I could be provided with 

 dogs there ; and finally, that the distance was 

 great, and would take sixteen days to perform it. 

 He added that the provisions would be mouldy 

 and bad, and that from having to walk constantly 

 on snow-shoes, I should suffer a great deal of 

 misery and fatigue. Notwithstanding these as- 

 sertions, on the 23d of December I left the fort, 

 with Beauparlant and a Bois-brule, each having 

 a sledge drawn by dogs, laden with pemmican. 

 We crossed an arm of the lake, and entered the 

 Litde Buffalo River, which is connected with tlie 

 Salt River, and is about fifty yards wide at its 

 junction with the lake— the water is brackish. 

 This route is usually taken in the winter, as it 

 cuts off a large angle in going to the Great Slave 

 River. In the afternoon we passed two empty 

 fishing-huts, and in the evening encamped amongst 



