OF THE POLAR SEA. 



53 



was often further impeded by fallen trees, 

 which, having slipped from the verge of the 

 thick wood above, hung on the face of the 

 bank in a great variety of directions. Not- 

 withstanding these obstacles, we advanced 

 at the rate of two miles an hour, one half of 

 the crew relieving the other at intervals of 

 an hour and a half. The banks of the 

 river, and its islands, composed of alluvial 

 soil, are well covered with pines, larches, 

 poplars, and willows. The breadth of the 

 stream, some distance above the Factory, 

 is about half a mile, and its depth, during 

 this day's voyage, varied from three to nine 

 feet. 



At sunset we landed, and pitched the 

 tent for the night, having made a progress 

 of twelve miles. A large fire was quickly 

 kindled, supper speedily prepared, and as 

 readily despatched, when we retired with 

 our buffalo robes on, and enjoyed a night 

 of sound repose. 



It may here be stated, that the survey of 

 the river was made by taking the bearings 

 of every point with a pocket compass, esti- 



