In the Arctic Beg ions. 39 



The men brought supplies of moose meal from the 

 hunter's tent, which is pitched near t lie Basipiiau 

 Hill, at the distance of forty or fifty miles from the 

 house, and from whence the greatest part of the meal 

 is procured. The residents have to send nearly the 

 same distance for their fish, and on this service horse- 

 sledges are used. Nets are daily set in Pine Island 

 Lake, which occasionally procure some fine sturgeon, 

 tittameg and trout, but not more than sufficient to 

 Bupply the officers' table. 



Dec. 1. — This day was so remarkably fine, that we 

 procured another set of observations for the (lip of the 

 needle in the open air ; the instrument being placed 

 firmly on a rock, the results gave 83° 14' 22". The 

 change produced by reversing the face of the instrument 

 was 12° 50' 55". 



There was a determined thaw during the last three 

 days, which caused the Saskatchawan River, and Borne 

 parts of the lake, to break up, and rendered the tra- 

 veling across either of them dangerous. On this ac- 

 count the absence of Wilkes, one of our nun, caused 

 no small anxiety. Be had incautiously undertaken 

 the charge of conduct ing a sledge and dog8, in com- 

 pany with a person, i Swampy River for fish. 

 On their return, being unac 1 to driving, he 

 became fatigued, and seated himself -oil his sledge, in 



which situation his companion left him, presuming 



