OF THE POLAR SEA. 123 



Fort Enterprise, most sincerely rejoicing that the 

 long-wished-for day had arrived, when we were 

 to proceed towards the final object of the Expe- 

 dition. 



We left in one of the rooms a box, containing 

 a journal of the occurrences up to this date, the 

 charts, and some drawings, which was to be con- 

 veyed to Fort Chipewyan by Mr. Wentzel, on his 

 return from the sea, and from thence to be sent to 

 England. The room was blocked up, and, by 

 the advice of Mr. Wentzel, a drawing represent- 

 ing a man holding a dagger in a threatening atti- 

 tude, was affixed to the door, to deter any Indians 

 from breaking it open. We directed our course 

 towards the Dog-rib Rock, but as our companions 

 were loaded with the weight of near one hun- 

 dred and eighty pounds each, we of necessity 

 proceeded at a slow pace. The day was ex- 

 tremely warm, and the musquitoes, whose attacks 

 had hitherto been feeble, issued forth in swarms 

 from the marshes, and were very tormenting. 

 Having walked five miles we encamped near a 

 small cluster of pines about two miles from the 

 Dog-rib Rock. The canoe party had not been 

 seen since they set out. Our hunters went for- 

 ward to Marten Lake, intending to wait for us at 

 a place where two deer were deposited. At nine 

 P'M. the temperature of the air was 63°. 



