1« JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



consisting of alluvial sand. In one place the 

 passage was blocked up by drift ice, stilJ covered 

 to some depth with snow. A channel for the 

 canoes was made for some way with the hatchets 

 and poles; but on reaching the more compact 

 part we were under the necessity of transporting 

 the canoes and cargoes across it ; an operation of 

 much hazard, as the snow concealed the numer- 

 ous holes which the water had made in the ice. 

 Ihis expansion of the river being mistaken by 

 he guide for a lake, which he spoke of as the 

 last on our route to the sea, we supposed that we 

 should have no more ice to cross, and therefore 

 encamped after passing through it, for the pur- 

 po se of fit, ^, ^^^^^ ^^^^^^ P 



and to provide poles, which are not only neces- 

 W u"'"^'''" ^^^ ^hen placed in the 

 bottom, but essentiaUy requisite for the safe 

 management of them in dangerous rapids. The 



fake t "^^"^^ *° ^°"b' whether the 



S i thT'""""' '■""'>- ---d he was 

 return 'h°.""° '° ''^^'"^ i""' the fact, who 

 itrbrin K°, '"'""S with the information of 



eha^rui:^":;^"-^/---^ 



^plantsippLdtir^^^^"''^^' 



canotr'", "'''' ""P'^y^'l i" 'eP^iring their 

 canoes to a late hour, and cnm„,™4 vet^ early 



