OF THE POLAR SEA. 2S3 



sending for it ; but they persisted in the declara- 

 tion, that it was in a totally unserviceable condi- 

 tion. St. Germain being again called upon, to 

 endeavour to construct a canoe frame with willows, 

 stated that he was unable to make one sufficiently 

 large. It became necessary, therefore, to search 

 for pines of sufficient size to form a raft ; and 

 being aware that such trees grow on the borders 

 of Point Lake, we considered it best to trace its 

 shores in search of them ; we, therefore, resumed 

 our march, carefully looking, but in vain, for a 

 fordable part, and encamped at the east end of 

 Point Lake. 



As there was little danger of our losing the 

 path of our hunters whilst we coasted the shores 

 of this lake, I determined on again sending Mr. 

 Back forward, with the interpreters to hunt. I 

 had in view, in this arrangement, the further 

 object of enabling Mr. Back to get across the 

 lake with two of these men, to convey the earliest 

 possible account of our situation to the Indians. 

 Accordingly I instructed him to halt at the first 

 pines he should come to, and then prepare a raft ; 

 and if his hunters had killed animals, so that the 

 party could be supported whilst we were making 

 our raft, he was to cross immediately with St. 

 Germain and Beauparlant, and send the Indians 



