OF THE POLAR SEA. 145 



tained to be 65° 43' 28" N., longitude 114° 26' 

 45" W,, and the variation 42° IT 22" E. 



At four in the morning of July 4th we em- 

 barked and descended a succession of very agi- 

 tated rapids, but took the precaution of landing 

 the articles mentioned yesterday, wherever there 

 appeared any hazard ; notwithstanding all our 

 precautions the leading canoe struck with great 

 force against a stone, and the bark was split, but 

 this injury was easily repaired, and we regretted 

 only the loss of time. At eleven we came to an 

 expansion of the river where the current ran with 

 less force, and an accumulation of drift ice had, in 

 consequence, barred the channel; over which the 

 canoes and cargoes were carried. The ice in many 

 places adhered to the banks, and projected in 

 wide ledges several feet thick over the stream, 

 which had hollowed them out beneath. On one 

 occasion as the people were embarking from one 

 of these ledges, it suddenly gave way, and three 

 men were precipitated into the water, but were 

 rescued without further damage than a sound 

 ducking, and the canoe fortunately, (and nar- 

 rowly) escaped being crushed. Perceiving one 

 of the Indians sitting on the east bank of the river, 

 we landed, and having learned from him that 

 Akaitcho and the hunters had gone in pursuit of 



