/// tin Arctic Regions. 37 



could not learn that the Indians in general ob.- 

 any particular ceremony on the approach of death. 



Nov. 15. — The sky had been overcast during the 

 last week ; the sun Bhone forth once only, and thru 

 not sufficiently for the purpose of obtaining observa- 

 tions. Faint coruscations of the Aurora Borealis ap- 



ued one evening, but their presence did not in the 

 leasi affect the electrometer nor the compass. The 

 ice daily became thicker in the lake, and the frost had 

 now nearly overpowered the rapid current of the Sask- 

 atchawan River ; indeed, parties of men who were sent 

 from both the forts to Bearch forthe Indians, and pro- 

 cure whatever skins and provisions they might have 

 collected, crossed that stream this day on the ice; the 

 white partridges made their first appearance near to 

 the house. These birds arc considered as the infalli- 

 ble harbingers of severe weather. 



Monday, Nov. 22. — The Saskatchawan, and every 

 other liver, were now completely covered with ice, ex- 



C pt a small stream near to the fort through which the 

 current ran very powerfully. In the course of the 

 week we removed into the house our men had been 

 preparing for ub since our arrival. We found it at 



first extremely cold, notwithstanding a g 1 fire was 



kepi in each apartment, and we frequently experi- 

 enced the extremes df heat and cold on opposite sides 

 ot the body. 



