/// the Arc t'< //- giona. 1 59 



ther, their father, who thought himself dying, having 

 solicited them to remain and close his eyes. Tl 

 five were furnished with ammunition, and Bent for- 

 ward to hunt on the Bouth border of the lake, with 

 directions to place any meat they might procure near 

 to the edge of the lake, and Bel up marks to guide us 

 to the Bpots. Akaitcho, his brother, the guide, and 

 three other men, remained to accompany us. We 

 were much surprised to perceive an extraordinary dif- 

 oce in climate in so .short an advance to the north- 

 ward as fifty miles. The Bnow here was lying in 1 . 

 patches on the hills. The dwarf-birch and willows 

 were only just beginning to open their buds, which 

 bad bursl forth al Fori Enterprize many days previous 

 or departure. Vegetation Beemed to be three wi eks 

 or a month later here than at that place. We had 

 heavy Bhowers of rain through the night of the 22d, 

 which melted the Bnow, and visibly wasted the ice. 



<)n the 23d, the men were busily employed in mak- 

 ing tin ir trains, arid in pounding the meat for pem- 

 mican. The arrangements being completed, we 

 purposed commencing our journey next morning, but 

 the weather was too Btormy to admit of our venturing 

 upon the lake with the canoes. Jn the afternoon a 

 heavy fall of snow took place, which was succeeded by 

 .sleet and rain. The north-east gale continued, but 

 the thermometer rose to 39°. 



