OF THE TOLAR SEA. 



149 



to make to these mountains, when most of 

 their weapons and utensils were made of 

 copper, have been discontinued since they 

 have been enabled to obtain a supply of ice 

 chisels and other instruments of iron by the 

 establishment of trading posts near their 

 hunting grounds. That none of those who 

 accompanied us had visited them for many 

 years was evident, from their ignorance of 

 the spots most abundant in metal. 



The impracticability of navigating the 

 river upwards from the sea, and the want of 

 wood for forming an establishment, would 

 prove insuperable objections to rendering 

 the collection of copper at this part worthy 

 of mercantile speculation. 



We had the opportunity of surveying the 

 country from several elevated positions. 

 Two or three small lakes only were visible, 

 still partly frozen ; and much snow re- 

 mained on the mountains. The trees were 

 reduced to a scanty fringe on the borders 

 of the river, and every side was beset by 

 naked mountains. 



The day was unusually warm, and, there- 



