In the Arctic Regions. 171 
from the pemmican. The repair of our canoes was 
completed this evening. Previous to embarking I 
issued an order that no rapid should in future be 
descended until the bowmen had examined it, and 
decided upon its being safe to run, Wherever the 
least danger was to be apprehended, or the crew had 
to disembark for the purpose of lightening the canoe, 
the ammunition, guns and instruments, were always 
to be put out and carried along the bank ; that we 
might be provided with the means of subsisting our- 
selves, in case of any accident befalling the canoes. 
At four in the morning of July 4th, we embarked 
and descended a succession of very,agitated rapids, 
but took the precaution of landing the articles men- 
tioned yesterday, wherever there appeared any hazard ; 
notwithstanding all our precautions the leading canoe 
struck with great force against a stone, and the bark 
was split, but this injury was easily repaired, and we 
regretted only the loss of time. At eleven we came 
to an expansion of the river where the current ran 
with less force, and an accumulation of drift ice had, 
in consequence, barred the channel ; which the canoes 
and cargoes were carried over. The ice in many places 
adhered to the banks, and projected in wide ledges 
several feet thick over the stream, which had hollowed 
tlfem out beneath. On one occasion, as the people 
were embarking from one of these ledges, it suddenly 
