OP THE POLAR SEA. 

 mine who we were. The circumstance c 

 passed them was very vexatious, as they had three 

 deer en cache at their encampment. However, an 

 Indian was sent to desire those who remained to 

 join us, and bring the meat. 



We embarked at nine A.M. on July 2nd, and 

 descended a succession of strong rapids for three 

 miles. We were carried along with extraordi- 

 nary rapidity, shooting over large stones, upon 

 which a single stroke would have been destruc- 

 tive to the canoes ; and we were also in danger 

 of breaking them, from the want of the long 

 poles which lie along their bottoms and equalize 

 their cargoes, as they plunged very much, and on 

 one occasion the first canoe was almost filled with 

 the waves. But there was no receding after we 

 had once launched into the stream, and our safety 

 depended on the skill and dexterity of the bow- 

 men and steersmen. The banks of the river here 

 are rocky, and the scenery beautiful ; consisting 

 of gentle elevations and dales wooded to the 

 edge of the stream, and flanked on both sides at 

 the distance of three or four miles by a range of 

 round-backed barren hills, upwards of six hun- 

 dred feet higli. At the foot of the rapids the 

 high lands receded to a greater distance, and the 

 river flowed with a more gentle current, in a 

 wider channel, through a level and open country 



