NORTHERN OCEAN 283 



woods ; judging it to be no more than a squall, we sat down, 1772. 

 in expectation of its soon passing by. As the night, however, 

 advanced, the gale increased to such a degree, that it was 

 impossible for a man to stand upright ; so that we were 

 obliged to lie down, without any other defence against the 

 weather, than putting our sledges and other lumber to wind- 

 ward of us, which in reality was of no real service, as it only 

 harboured a great drift of snow, with which in some places we 

 were covered to the depth of two or three feet ; and as the 

 night was not very cold, I found myself, [288] and many 

 others who were with me, long before morning in a puddle of 

 water, occasioned by the heat of our bodies melting the snow. 



The second proved fine pleasant weather, with warm sun- 2d. 

 shine. In the morning, having dried all our clothing, we 

 proceeded on our journey. In the afternoon we arrived at 

 the part at which my guide intended we should build our 

 canoes ; but having had som.e difference with his countrymen, 

 he altered his mind, and determined to proceed to the East- 

 ward, as long as the season would permit, before he attempted 

 to perform that duty. Accordingly, on the third, we pursued 3^. 

 our way, and as that and the following day were very cold, 

 which made us walk briskly, we were enabled to make good 

 days' journies ; but the fifth was so hot and sultry, that we 

 only walked about thirteen miles in our old course to the 

 East by North, and then halted about three-quarters of a 

 mile to the South of Black Bear Hill ; ^ a place which I had 

 seen in the Spring of one thousand seven hundred and seventy- 

 one. 



On the sixth, the weather was equally hot with the pre- 6th. 



[^ On the 8th of March 1771 they " lay a little to the E.N.E. of Black Bear 

 Hill" (see p. 125), while now they are three quarters of a mile south of it. As 

 this hill is but a short distance (two days' journey) west of Wholdiah Lake, the 

 two routes laid down on the map are evidently incorrect, for the map shows his 

 route home at this place at least thirty-five miles north of the route out, instead 

 of south of it as indicated by the text.] 



