In the Arctic Regions. 135 
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is. He said there was no wood within eleven days’ 
aarch, during which time we could not have any fire, 
s the moss, which the Indians use in their summer 
xcursions, would be too wet for burning, in conse- 
‘uence of the recent rains ; that we should be forty 
‘ays in descending the Copper-Mine River, six ot 
rhich would be expended in getting to its banks, and 
hat we might be blocked up by the ice in the next 
acon ; and during the whole journey the party must 
xperience great suffering for want of food, as ‘the 
eindeer had already left the river. 
He was now reminded that these statements were 
ery different from the account he had given, both at 
ort Providence and on the route hither ; and that 
ip to this moment, we had been encouraged by his 
onversation to expect that the party might descend 
he Copper-Mine River, accompanied by the Indians, 
le replied, that at the former place he had been un- 
cquainted with our slow mode of traveling, and that 
he alteration, in his opinion, arose from the advance 
f winter. . 
We now informed him, that we were provided 
vith instruments by which we could ascertain the 
tate of the air and water, and that we did not ima- 
‘ine the winter to be so near as he. supposed ; how- 
ver, we promised to return on discovering the first 
hange in the season. He was also told that all the 
