158 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



vent us from disturbing a herd of musk oxen, 

 which they had observed grazing on the opposite 

 bank ; we put them across, and they succeeded 

 in kilhng six, upon which we encamped for the 

 purpose of drying the meat. The country below 

 the Rocky Defile Rapid consists of sandy plains, 

 broken by small conical eminences also of sand ; 

 and bounded to the westward by a continuation 

 of the mountain chain, which we had crossed at 

 the Bear Lake Portage; and to the eastward 

 and northward, at the distance of twelve miles, 

 by the Copper Mountains, which Mr. Hearne 

 visited. The plains are crowned by several 

 clumps of moderately large spruces, about thirty 

 feet high. ^ f , J 



This evening the Indians made a large fire, as 

 a signal to the Hook's party that we had passed 

 the terrific rapid in safety. 



The position of our encampment was ascer- 

 Zoo'^ ^' ^''''^^" ^^° ^' 1^'' N., longitude 

 nb Zi 28 W., variation of the compass 44° 11' 

 4^ K, dip of the needle 87° 31' 18" 



Some thunder showers retarded the drying of 

 the meat and our embarkation was delayed next 

 day. The hunters were sent forward to hunt at 

 the Copper Mountains, under the superintendence 

 o Adam, the interpreter, who received strict in- 

 junctions not to pennit them to make any large 



