ON THE LOWER DUBAWNT 



Eskimos were discovered. They consisted of rings of camp 

 stones, an old bow, several broken arrows, a whip-stock and 

 numerous broken or partly formed willow ribs of a " kyack," 

 or canoe. 



About six miles or so down from Dubawnt Lake we arrived 

 at the head of a wild rapid, where the broad river rushes 

 down through a narrow, rocky gorge, not more than fifty 

 yards in width, and about two and a half miles in length. 

 Over this entire distance the river forms one continuous boil- 

 ing, tumbling stream of foaming water, which at every rock 

 in its course is dashed high in air into myriad particles of 

 spray. At the foot of the rapid the river again widens out 

 beyond its usual width into Grant Lake, which was still more 

 than half covered by last winter's ice. 



Past the entire length of this rapid a portage of everything 

 had, of course, to be made. Camp was pitched at the foot, 

 and near it were found bones of musk-oxen. Later, on the 

 opposite side of the rapid, 4;wo of these animals were seen. 



On the morning of the 19th we started across Grant Lake 

 in a northerly direction, and within a distance of about four 

 miles discovered, to the left, the mouth of a small stream 

 named Chamberlain River, flowing in from the westward, and 

 much to our delight, upon its sandy beaches found dead wil- 

 low drift-wood in such quantities that we were able to load 

 the canoes with it. Signs of Eskimos were also observed here. 

 Three miles farther north, just west of a remarkable white 

 sand-hill or esker, three hundred feet in height, the Dubawnt 

 now a broad, swift stream, was again entered. 



Towards evening we sighted, upon the right bank, some 

 distance ahead of us, the solitary lodge of an Eskimo. In 

 front of the doorway stood a man gazing toward us, and be- 

 hind and around him excited women and children were 

 gathered. These were all quickly placed inside the " topick "■ 

 or lodge, and the doorway laced up securely. But the man 

 remained outside, watching us intently. Our canoes were,. 



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