In the Arctic Regions. 37 
= 
could not learn that the Indians in general observe 
any particular ceremony on the approach of death. 
Nov. 15.—The sky had been overcast during the 
last week ; the sun shone forth once only, and then 
not sufficiently for the purpose of obtaining observa- — 
tions. Faint coruscations of the Aurora Borealis ap- 
_peared one evening, but their presence did not in the 
least affect the electrometer nor the compass, The 
ice daily became thicker in the lake, and the frost had 
now nearly overpowered the rapid current of the Sask- 
atchawan River; indeed, parties of men who were sent 
from both the forts to search for the Indians, and pro- 
cure whatever skins and provisions they might have 
collected, crossed that stream Shis day on the ice; the 
white partridges made their first appearance near to 
the house. These birds are considered as the infalli- 
ble harbingers of severe weather. 
Monday, Nov. 22.—The Saskatchawan, and every 
other river, were now completely covered with ice, ex- 
cept asmall stream near to the fort through which the 
current ran very powerfully. In the course of the 
week we removed into the house our men had been 
preparing for us since our arrival, We found it at. 
first extremely cold, notwithstanding a good fire was 
kept in each apartment, and we frequently experi- 
enced the extremes of heat and cold on opposite sides 
of the body. 
