SAILING OVER THE ICE. 365 



ticable. The voyage was commenced on the 7th June, when Dease and 

 Simpson, with four men to each of their two boats, commenced the ascent of 

 the Dease Eiver. On the 9th, after passing the south branch of the river 

 which falls in from the mountains in lat. 67° V N., long. 118° V2' W., the party 

 pushed on over fifteen small rapids, and passed over several sheets of still 

 water. On the 12th they had advanced seventy miles up the Dease Kiver, 

 and had arrived at the commencement of the portage forming the height of 

 land between that river and the Dismal Lakes. On the 17th these lakes 

 were reached, and were found to be still covered with thick ice, while the 

 hills around glistened with snow. " At four o'clock next morning," says 

 Simpson, "having fixed the boats firmly upon stout iron-shod sledges, 

 brought with us for the purpose, and placed in them the oars and luggage, 

 we hoisted the sails to a fair wind, and, placing the crews at the drag-ropes, 

 set out at the rate of two knots an hour over the ice, colours flying. This 

 extraordinary spectacle will long be a subject of tradition among the 

 natives. The snow still adhering to the surface of the lake much impeded 

 our progress, but could not damp the ardour which our strange and success- 

 ful march excited. With the aid of the breeze we advanced fifteen miles, 

 nearly half the length of this chain of lakes, and encamped in a little bay 

 sheltered by an inland, where we collected willows enough to cook our 

 supper." On the following morning, at three A.M., the intrepid explorers were 

 again on the ice, crossing the deep and partially thawed snow-banks that 

 lined the shores on snow-shoes. On this day the last of the Dismal Lakes 

 was traversed, and on the 20th, having reached the open water of Kendal 

 Eiver, the boats were trimmed, the provisions embarked, and the descent of 

 this stream — an affluent of the Coppermine — commenced. The descent was 

 completed the same day, and the Coppermine, which, however, was found 

 to be still covered with ice, was reached. A lead, or open passage in the 

 icy surface of the great river, was discovered on the 22d, and the boats being 

 pushed into it, were hurried down the stream. On the banks of the river 

 herds of deer, unapprehensive of danger, were peacefully feeding, and the 

 explorers, firing from the boats, brought down a number of them. " It was 

 princely sport," exclaims Simpson, " and a supply of venison for several 

 days rewarded our exertions." This favourable progress was interrupted, 

 however, by quantities of ice, which came driving down the river from the 

 north, and stopped the advance of the boats till the 24th. The sun was now 

 in the heavens during the whole twenty-four hours ; but the cold was still 

 severe, and a chilling fog came up the valley of the river from the sea every 

 night. 



Tired of delay, and resolved to advance at all hazards, Dease and Simp- 

 son pushed out at eight on the morning of the 25th. The swollen and 

 tumultuous stream was still strewed with loose ice, while the inaccessible 



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