OF THE POLAR SEA. 



3 9 



drifting into the Slave Lake,) we succeeded. 

 In two hours the whole party was over, with 

 a comfortable addition to it in the shape of 

 some fine fish, which the Indians had caught : 

 of course we did not forget to take these 

 friends with us, and after passing several 

 lakes, to one of which we saw no termina- 

 tion, we halted within eight miles of the 

 fort. The Great Slave Lake was not frozen. 



" In crossing a narrow branch of the lake 

 I fell through the ice, but received no injury ; 

 and at noon we arrived at Fort Providence, 

 and were received by Mr. Weeks, a clerk 

 of the North- West Company, in charge of 

 the establishment. I found several packets 

 of letters for the officers, which I was de- 

 sirous of sending to them immediately ; but 

 as the Indians and their wives complained 

 of illness and inability to return without 

 rest, a flagon of mixed spirits was given 

 them, and their sorrows were soon forgotten. 

 In a quarter of an hour they pronounced 

 themselves excellent hunters, and capable 

 of going any where ; however, their boast- 

 ing ceased with the last drop of the bottle, 

 c 2 



