130 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



and several were lame from swellings of the lower 

 extremities. The ice on the lake was still six or 

 seven feet thick, and there was no appearance of 

 its decay except near the edges ; and as it was 

 evident that, by remaining here until it should be 

 removed, we might lose every prospect of suc- 

 cess in our undertaking, I determined on drag- " 

 ging our stores along its surface, until we should 

 come to a part of the river where we could em- 

 bark ; and directions were given this evenmg for 

 each man to prepare a train for the conveyance of 

 his portion of the stores. I may remark here, as 

 a proof of the strong effect of radiation from the 

 earth in melting the ice, that the largest holes in 

 the ice were always formed at the base of the 

 high and steep cliffs, which abound on the borders 

 of this lake. 



We found Akaitcho and the hunters encamped 

 here, but their families, and the rest of the tribe, 

 had gone off two days before to the Beth-see-to, 

 a large lake to the northward, where they intend- 

 ed passing the summer. Long-legs and Keskar- 

 rah had departed, to desire the Hook to coUect 

 as much meat as he could against our arrival at 

 ills lodge. We were extremely distressed to 

 learn from Dr. Richardson, that Akaitchcand his 

 party had expended all the ammunition they had 



