OF THE POLAR SEA. 287 



gence of Junius. We set out about an hour after 

 daybreak, and encamped at two P.M. between 

 the rapids, where the river was about one hun- 

 dred and thirty yards wide, being its narrowest 

 part. 



Eight deer were seen by Michel and Credit, 

 who loitered behind the rest of the party, but 

 they could not approach them. A great many 

 shots were fired by those in the rear at partridges, 

 but they missed, or at least did not choose to add 

 what they killed to the common stock. We sub- 

 sequently learned that the hunters often secreted 

 the partridges they shot, and ate them unknown 

 to the officers. Some tripe de roche was collected, 

 which we boiled for supper, with the moiety of 

 the remainder of our deer's meat. The men com- 

 menced cutting the willows for the construction of 

 the raft. As an excitement to exertion, I pro- 

 mised a reward of three hundred livres to the 

 first person who should convey a line across the 

 river, by which the raft could be managed in 

 transporting the party. 



September 29.— Strong south-east winds with 

 fog in the morning, more moderate in the even- 

 ing. Temperature of the rapid SS*'. The men 

 began at an early hour to bind the willows in 

 fagots for the construction of the raft, and it was 

 finished by seven ; but as the willows were green. 



