OF THE POLAR SEA. 119 



from going where she pleased. Upon this she 

 came to sohcit a fire-steel and kettle. She was 

 at first low-spirited, from the non- arrival of a 

 country-woman, who had promised to elope with 

 her, but had probably been too narrowly watched. 

 The Indian hunter, however, having given her 

 some directions as to the proper mode of joining 

 her own tribe, she became more composed, and 

 ultimately agreed to adopt his advice of proceed- 

 ing at once to Fort Providence, instead of wander- 

 ing about the country all summer in search of 

 them, at the imminent hazard of being starved. 



On the 7th, the wind, changing to the south- 

 ward, dispersed the clouds which had obscured 

 the sky for several days, and produced a change 

 of temperature under which the snow rapidly dis- 

 appeared. The thermometer rose to 73°, many 

 flies came forth, musquitoes shewed themselves 

 for the first time, and one swallow made its ap- 

 pearance. We were the more gratified with these 

 indications of summer, that St. Germain was 

 enabled to commence upon the repair of the 

 canoes, and before night had completed the two 

 which had received the least injury. Augustus 

 killed two deer to-day. 



On the 10th the dip of the magnetic needle 

 being observed, shewed a decrease of 22' 44", 



