NORTHERN OCEAN. 
iig 
indeed it did not fet all that night, which was a 1771. 
convincing proof, without any obfervation, that 
we were then confiderably to the North of the 
Arctic Polar Circle. 
As foon as the fine weather began, we fet out 
and walked about feven or eight miles to the 
Northward, when we came toa branch of Conge- 
ca-tha-wha-chaga River; on the North fide of 
| which we found feveral Copper Indians, who 
| were aflembled, according to annual cuftom, to kill 
deer as they crofs the river in their little canoes. 
The ice being now broken up, we were, for the 
firit time this Summer, obliged to make ufe of our 
canoes to ferry acrofs the river: which would 
have proved very tedious, had it not been for the 
kindnefs of the Copper Indians, who fent all their 
canoes to our afliftance. Though our number 
was not much lefs than one hundred and fifty, 
we had only three canoes, and thofe being of the 
common fize, could only carry two perfons each, 
without baggage. It is true, when water is 
fmooth, and a raft of three or four of thofe canoes 
is well fecured by poles lafhed acrofs them, they 
will carry a much greater weight in proportion, 
and be much fafer, as there is {carcely a poffibility 
of their overfetting ; and this is the general mode 
adopted by the people of this country in crofing 
rivers when they have more than one canoe with 
them. 
- Having arrived on the North fide of this river, 
we found that Matonabbee, and feveral. othersin 
our 
June, 
22d. 
