54 Thirty Years 



the wind was light, which prevented our feeling it se- 

 verely ; experience indeed had taught us that the sen- 

 sation of cold depends less upon the state of temper- 

 ature, than the force of wind. An attempt was made 

 to obtain the latitude, which failed in consequence of 

 the screw, which adjusts the telescope of the sextant, 

 being immovably fixed, from the moisture upon it 

 having frozen. The instrument could not be replaced 

 in its case before the ice was thawed by the fire in the 

 evening. 



In the course of the day we passed the confluence 

 of the south branch of the Saskatchawan, which rises 

 from the rocky mountains near the sources of the 

 northern branch of the Missouri. At Coles Falls, 

 which commences a short distance from the branch, we 

 found the surface of the ice very uneven, and many 

 spots of open water. 



We passed the ruins of an establishment, which the 

 traders had been compelled to abandon, in consequence 

 di' the intractable conduct and pilfering habits of the 

 A-sinoboine Indians; and we learnt that all the resi- 

 dents at a post on the south branch, had been cut off 

 by the same tribe some years ago. We traveled 

 twelve miles to-day. The wolves serenaded us through 

 the nighl with :i chorus of their agreeable howling, 

 but none of them ventured near the encampment, 

 Mr. Back's repose was disturbed by a more serious 



