OF THE POLAR SEA. 



63 



showers in the course of the day, and the 

 thermometer at bed- time stood at 30°. 



On the morning of the 18th, the country 

 was clothed in the livery of winter, a heavy 

 fall of snow having taken place during the 

 night. We embarked at the usual hour, 

 and in the course of the day crossed the 

 Point of Rocks and Brassa Portages, and 

 dragged the boats through several minor 

 rapids. In this tedious way we only made 

 good about nine miles. 



On Sunday the 1 9th we hauled the boats 

 up several short rapids, or, as the boatmen 

 term them, expressively enough, spouts, 

 and carried them over the Portages of 

 Lower Burntwood and Morgan's Rocks ; 

 on the latter of which we encamped, having 

 proceeded, during the whole day, only one 

 mile and three-quarters. 



The upper part.of Hill River swells out 

 considerably, and at Morgan's Rocks, where 

 it is three-quarters of a mile wide, we were 

 gratified with a more extensive prospect of 

 the country than any we had enjoyed since 

 leaving York Factory. The banks of the 



