150 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



fore, favourable for drying the meat. Our 

 whole stock of provision, calculated for pre- 

 servation, was sufficient for fourteen days, 

 without any diminution of the ordinary al- 

 lowance of three pounds to each man per 

 day. The situation of our tents was 67° 

 10' 30" N., longitude 116° 25' 45" W. 



June 12. — The Indians knowing the course 

 of the river below this point to be only a 

 succession of rapids declined taking their 

 canoes any further ; but as I conceived one 

 of them would be required, should we be 

 compelled to walk along the coast, two of 

 our men were appointed to conduct it. 



As we were now entering the confines of 

 the Esquimaux country, our guides recom- 

 mended us to be cautious in lighting fires, 

 lest we should discover ourselves, adding 

 that the same reason would lead them to 

 travel as much as possible in the valleys, 

 and to avoid crossing the tops of the hills. 

 We embarked at six A.M., taking with us 

 only old Keskarrah. The other Indians 

 walked along the banks of the river. 

 Throughout this day's voyage the current 



