liG .TOURXEY TO THE SHORES 



It rained heavily during tiie night, and this was 

 succeeded by a dense fog on the morning of the 

 28th. Being short of provisions we commenced 

 our journey, though the points of land were not 

 discernibJe beyond a short distance. The sur- 

 face of the ice, being honeycombed by the recent 

 rains, presented innumerable sharp points, which 

 tore our shoes, and lacerated the feet at every 

 step. The poor dogs, too, marked their path 

 with their blood. 



In the evening the atmosphere became clear, 

 and, at five P.M., we reached the rapid by which 

 Point Lake communicates with Red- Rock Lake. 

 This rapid is only one hundred yards wide, and 

 we were much disappointed at finding the Copper- 

 Mine River such an inconsiderable stream. The 

 canoes descended the rapid, but the cargoes were 

 carried across the peninsula, and placed again on 

 the sledges, as the next lake was still frozen. 

 ^\ e passed an extensive arm, branching to the 

 eastward, and encamped just below it, on the 

 western bank, among spruce pines, having walked 

 SIX miles of direct distance. The rolled stones 

 on the beach are principally red clay slate, hence 

 Its Indian appellation, which we have retained. 



We continued our journey at the usual hour 

 next morning. At noon the variation was ob- 

 served to be 47° east. Our attention was after- 



