OF THE POLAR SEA. 



129 



provided with the means of subsisting our- 

 selves, in case of any accident befalling the 

 canoes. 



The situation of our encampment was 

 ascertained to be 65° 43' 28" N., longitude 

 114° 26' 45" W., and the variation 42° 17' 

 22" E. 



At four in the morning of July 4th we 

 embarked, and descended a succession of 

 very agitated rapids, but took the precau- 

 tion of landing the articles mentioned yes- 

 terday, wherever there appeared any hazard ; 

 notwithstanding all our precautions, the 

 leading canoe struck with great force against 

 a stone, and the bark was split, but this 

 injury was easily repaired, and we regretted 

 only the loss of time. At eleven we came 

 to an expansion of the river where the 

 current ran with less force, and an accumu- 

 lation of drift ice had, in consequence, 

 barred the channel ; over this the canoes 

 and cargoes were carried. The ice in many 

 places adhered to the banks, and projected 

 in wide ledges several feet thick over the 

 stream, which had hollowed them out be- 



VOL. III. K 



