64 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



same time, and sent down in company with 

 an Indian named the Belly. 



The commencement of April was fine, 

 and for several days a considerable thaw 

 took place in the heat of the sun, which 

 laying bare some of the lichens on the sides 

 of the hills, produced a consequent move- 

 ment of the rein-deer to the northward, 

 and induced the Indians to believe that the 

 spring was already commencing. Many of 

 them, therefore, quitted the woods, and set 

 their snares on the barren grounds near 

 Fort Enterprise. Two or three days of 

 cold weather, however, towards the middle 

 of the month, damped their hopes, and they 

 began to say that another moon must elapse 

 before the arrival of the wished-for season. 

 In the mean time their premature departure 

 from the woods caused them to suffer from 

 want of food, and we were in some degree 

 involved in their distress. We received no 

 supplies from the hunters, our nets produced 

 but very few fish, and the pounded meat, 

 which we had intended to keep for summer 

 use, was nearly expended. Our meals at this 



