In the Arctic Regions. 83 



were obliged to halt cinder the shelter of them, and 

 await the arrival of onr [ndiarj guide. lie condud 

 us between these islands, over a Bmall Lake, ami by a 

 swampy river, into the Athabasca Lake, from wl 



stablishments were visible. At four r. >i. wo had 

 the pleasure of arriving at Fort Chipewyan, and of 

 being received by Messrs. Keith and Black, tin' part- 

 ners "i' tin' North-West Company in charge, in the 

 most kind and hospitable manner. Thus has termina- 

 ted a winter's journey of eight hundred and titty-- 

 miles, in the progress of which there has been a 

 intermixture of agreeable and disagreeable circum- 

 stances. Could the amount of each he ballanced, 1 

 suspect the latter would much preponderate ; and 

 amongst these the initiation into the practice of walk- 

 ing in Bnow-shoes must he considered as prominent. 

 The suffering it occasions can In- hut faintly imagined 

 by a person who thinks upon the Inconvenience of 

 inarching with a weight of between two and three 



pounds constantly attached to galled feet, and swelled 



ankles. Perseverance and practice only will enable 

 the novice to Burmount this pain. 



The next evil is the being constantly exposed to 

 witness the wanton and unnecessary cruelty of the 



men to their dogs, especially those of i he ( 'anadiai.s, 

 who heat them unmercifully, and habitually v. 

 them the most dreadful and disgusting imprecations. 



