In the Arctic Regions. 289 
attempting to cross until a more favorable opportunity. 
Pleased, however, with the appearance of this raft, 
they collected some tripe de roche, and made a cheer- 
ful supper. Dr. Richardson was gaining strength, but 
his leg was much swelled and very painful. An ob- 
servation for latitude placed the encampment in 
65° 00° 00" N., the longitude being 112° 20'00” W., 
deduced from the last observation. - 
On the morning of the Ist of October, the wind was 
strong, and the weather as unfavorable as before for 
crossing on the raft. We were rejoiced to see Mr. 
Back and his party in the afternoon, They had tra- 
ced the lake about fifteen miles farther than we did, 
and found it undoubtedly connected, as we had sup- 
posed, with the lake we fell upon on the 22d of Sep- 
tember, and dreading, as we had done, the idea of 
coasting its barren shores, they returned to make an 
attempt at crossing here. St. Germain now proposed 
to make’a canoe of the fragments of painted canvass, 
in which we wrapped up our bedding. This scheme 
appearing practicable, a party was sent to our encamp- 
ment of the 24th and 25th last, tocollect pitch amongst 
the small pines that grew there, to pay over the seams 
of the canoe, 
In the afternoon we had a heavy fall of snow, which 
continued all the night. A small quantity of tripe de 
roche was gathered ; and Pa who had been hunt- 
