OF THE POLAR SEA. 



261 



vial soil, which towards the mouth of the 

 river spreads into plains, covered with grass 

 and willows, was now giving place to a 

 more barren and hilly country, so that we 

 could but just collect sufficient brush- wood 

 to cook our suppers. The part of the river 

 we skirted this day was shallow, and flowed 

 over a bed of sand ; its width about one 

 hundred and twenty yards. About mid- 

 night our tent was blown down by a squall, 

 and we were completely drenched with rain 

 before it could be re-pitched. 



On the morning of the 1st of September 

 a fall of snow took place ; the canoes be- 

 came a cause of delay, from the difficulty 

 of carrying them in a high wind, and they 

 sustained much damage through the falls of 

 those who had charge of them. The face 

 of the country was broken by hills of mo- 

 derate elevation, but the ground was plenti- 

 fully strewed with small stones, which, to 

 men bearing heavy burdens, and whose feet 

 were protected only by soft moose -skin 

 shoes, occasioned graat pain. At the end 

 of eleven miles we encamped, and sent for 



