OF THE POLAR SEA. 



51 



Dr. Richardson was gaining strength, but 

 his leg was much swelled and very painful. 

 An observation for latitude placed the en- 

 campment in 65° 00' 00'' N., the longitude 

 being 112° 20' 00" W., deduced from the 

 last observation. 



On the morning of the 1st of October, 

 the wind was strong, and the weather as 

 unfavourable as before for crossing on the 

 raft. We were rejoiced to see Mr. Back 

 and his party in the afternoon. They had 

 traced the lake about fifteen miles farther 

 than we did, and found it undoubtedly con- 

 nected, as we had supposed, with the lake 

 we fell in with on the 22d of September; 

 and dreading, as we had done, the idea of 

 coasting its barren shores, they returned to 

 make an attempt at crossing here. St. 

 Germain now proposed to make a canoe of 

 the fragments of painted canvass in which 

 we wrapped our bedding. This scheme 

 appearing practicable, a party was sent to 

 our encampment of the 24th and 25th last, 

 to collect pitch amongst the small pines that 

 e 2 



