In the Arctic Regions. 157 
We set off next morning ata very early hour. The 
men took the course of Point Lake, that they might 
use their sledges, but the officers pursued the nearest 
route by land to Dr. Richardson’s tent, which we 
reached at eleven A. M. It was situated on the west- 
ern side of an arm of the lake, and near to the part 
tnrough which the Copper-Mine River runs. Our men 
arrived soon after us, and in the evening Mr. Wentzel 
and his party, -with the canoes in excellent condition. 
They were much jaded by their fatiguing journey, and 
several were lame from swellings of the lower extrem- 
ities. The ice on the lake was still six oy seven feet 
thick, and there was no appearance of its decay except 
near the edges ; and as it was evident that, by remain- 
ing here until it should be removed, we might lose 
every prospect of success in our undertaking, I deter- 
mined on dragging our stores along its surface, until 
we should come to a part of the river whére we could 
embark ; and directions were given this evening for 
each man to prepare a train for the conveyance of his 
portion of the stores. I may remark here, as a proof 
of the strong effect of radiation from the earth in 
melting the ice, that the largest holes in the ice were 
always formed at the base of the high and steep cliffs, 
which abound on the borders of this lake. 
We found Akaitcho and the hunters encamped here, 
but their families, and the rest of the tribe, had gone 
