OF THE POLAR SEA. 251 



highest hill near the tents, that the river continued 

 to preserve a west course ; and fearing that by 

 pursuing it further we might lose much time, 

 and unnecessarily walk over a great deal of 

 ground, I determined on quitting its banks the 

 next day, and making as directly as we could 

 for Point Lake. We accordingly followed the 

 river on the 3d, only to the place where the musk- 

 ox had been killed last evening, and after the 

 meat was procured, crossed the river in our two 

 canoes lashed together. We now emerged from 

 the valley of the river, and entered a level, but 

 very barren, country, varied only by small lakes 

 and marshes, the ground being covered with 

 small stones. Many old tracks of rein-deer were 

 seen in the clayey soil, and some more recent 

 ones of the musk-ox. We encamped on the 

 borders of Wright's River, which flows to the 

 eastward ; the direct distance walked to-day 

 being ten miles and three-quarters. The next 

 morning was very fine, and, as the day advanced, 

 the weather became quite warm. We set out at 

 six A.M., and, having forded the river, walked 

 over a perfectly level country, interspersed with 

 small lakes, which communicated with each other, 

 by streams running in various directions. No 

 berry -bearing plants were found in this part, the 



