OF THE POLAR SEA. 13 



some fatigue from being obliged to go round 

 the lakes, which lay across our route, and 

 were not sufficiently frozen to bear us. 

 Several rivulets appeared to empty them- 

 selves into the lakes, no animals were killed, 

 and few tracks seen. The scenery consisted 

 oY barren rocks and high hills, covered with 

 lofty pine, birch and larch trees. 



" October 26. — We continued our journey, 

 sometimes on frozen lakes, and at other 

 times on high craggy rocks. When we 

 were on the lakes we were much impeded 

 in our journey by different parts which 

 were unfrozen. There was a visible in- 

 crease of wood, consisting of birch and 

 larch, as we inclined to the southward. 

 About ten A. M. we passed Icy Portage, 

 where we saw various tracks of the moose, 

 bear, and otter ; and after a most harassing 

 march through thick woods and over fallen 

 trees, we halted a mile to the westward of 

 Fishing Lake ; our provisions were now 

 almost expended ; the weather was cloudy 

 with snow. 



" On the 27th we crossed two lakes, and 



