140 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



most, much to our regret, for we were calculating 

 upon the chance of sharing in his capture. 



At four P.M. our men returned, with the 



agree- 



able information that they had seen the 

 flowing at the base of the Rock-nest. The canoes 

 and stores were immediately placed on the ice, 

 and dragged thither ; we then embarked, but soon 

 had to cut through a barrier of drift ice that 

 blocked up the way. We afterwards descended 

 two strong rapids, and encamped near to the dis- 

 charge of a small stream which flows from an ^ 

 adjoining lake. The Copper-Mine River, at this 

 point, is about two hundred yards wide, and ten 

 feet deep, and flows very rapidly over a rocky 

 bottom. The scenery of its banks is picturesque, 

 the hills shelve to the water-side, and are well 

 covered with wood, and the surface of the rocks 

 IS richly ornamented with lichens. The Indians 

 say that the same kind of country prevails as far 

 as Mackenzie's Riv3r in this parallel ; but that 

 the land to the eastward is perfectly barren. 

 Akaitcho and one of the Indians killed two deer, 

 which were immediately sent for. Two of the 

 hunters arrived in the night, and we learned that 

 their companions, instead of being in advance, 

 ■upposed, were staying at the place where 



we first found the 



seen our fires last evening, and 



nver open. They had only 



; to exa- 



