OF THE POLAR SEA. 155 



a high range of hills, we arrived at the portage 

 leading to the Bear Lake, to which we have pre- 

 viously alluded. Its position is very remarkable, 

 being situated at the most westerly part of the 

 Copper-Mine River, and at the point where it 

 resumes a northern course, and forces a passage 

 through the lofty ridge of mountains, to which it 

 had run parallel for the last thirty miles. As the 

 Indians travel from hence, with their families, in 

 three days to the point where they propose stay- 

 ing for us, the distance, I think, cannot exceed 

 forty miles ;■ and, admitting the course to be due 

 west, which is the direction the guide pointed, 

 that distance would place the eastern part of 

 Bear Lake in 11 8.^° W. longitude. 



Beyond this spot the river is diminished in 

 breadth, and a succession of rapids are formed ; 

 but as the water was deep, we passed through 

 them without discharging any part of the cargoes. 

 It still runs between high ranges" of mountains, 

 though its actual boundaries are banks of mud 

 mixed with clay, which are clothed with stunted 

 pines. We picked up a deer which the hunters 

 had shot, and killed another from the canoe ; and 

 also received an addition to our stock of provision 

 of seven young geese, which the hunters had 

 beaten down with their sticks. About six P.M. 

 We perceived a mark on the shore, which on ex- 



