OF THE POLAR SEA. 149 



River the rapids ceased. The main stream was 

 then about three hundred yards Avide, and gene- 

 rally deep, though, in one part, the channel was 

 interrupted by several sandy banks, and low 

 alluvial islands covered with willows. It flows 

 between banks of sand thinly wooded, and as we 

 advanced the barren hills approached the water's 

 edge. 



At ten we rejoined our hunters, who had killed 

 a deer, and halted to breakfast. We sent them 

 forward; one of them, who was walking along 

 the shore afterwards, fired upon two brown bears, 

 and wounded one of them, which instantly turned 

 and pursued him. His companions in the canoes 

 put ashore to his assistance, but did not succeed 

 in killing the bears, which fled upon the reinforce- 

 ment coming up. During the delay thus occa- 

 sioned we overtook them, and they continued 

 with us during the rest of the day. 



We encamped at the foot of a lofty range of 

 mountains, which appear to be from one thousand 

 two hundred to one thousand five hundred feet 

 high ; they are in general round backed, but the 

 outline is not even, being interrupted by craggy 



