In the Artic Regions. 285 
roche was collected, which we boiled for supper, with 
the moiety of the remainder of our deer’s meat. The 
men commenced cutting the willows for the con- 
struction of the raft. As an excitement to exertion, 
I promised a reward of three hundred livres to the 
first person who should convey a line across the river, 
by which the raft could be managed in transporting 
the party. 
September 29.—Strong south-east winds with fog’ 
in the morning, more moderate inthe evening, Tem- 
perature of the rapid 38°. The men began at an early 
hour to bind the willows in fagots for the construction 
of the raft, and it was finished by seven ; but as the 
willows were green, it proved to be very little buoyant, 
and was unable to support more than one man ata 
time. Even on this, however, we hoped the whole 
party might be transported, by hauling it from one 
side to the other, provided a line could be carried to 
the other bank. Several attempts were made by Be- 
anger and Benoit, the strongest men of the party, to 
convey the raft across the stream, but they failed for 
want of oars. A pole constructed by tying the tent 
poles together, was too short to reach the bottom at 
a short distance from the shore ; and a paddle which 
had been carried from the sea coast by Dr. Richardson, 
did not possess sufficient power to move the raft in 
opposition to a strong breeze, which blew from the 
