OF THE POLAR SEA. 



67 



mouth of Steel River, where it ceased to be 

 useful. We left Sail Island with a fair 

 wind, and soon afterwards arrived at a 

 depot situated on Swampy Lake, where we 

 received a supply of mouldy pemmican.* 

 Mr. Calder and his attendant were the only 

 tenants of this cheerless abode, and their 

 only food was the wretched stuff with 

 which they supplied us, the lake not yield- 

 ing fish at this season. After a short delay 

 at this post, we sailed through the re- 

 mainder of Swampy Lake, and slept at the 

 Lower Portage in Jack River, the distance 

 sailed to-day being sixteen miles and a half. 



Jack River is only eight miles long ; but 

 being full of bad rapids, it detained us con- 

 siderably. At seven in the morning of the 

 24th, we crossed the Long Portage, where 

 the woods, having caught fire in the sum- 

 mer, were still smoking. This is a com- 

 mon accident, owing to the neglect of the 

 Indians and voyagers in not putting out 



* Buffalo meat, dried and pounded, and mixed 

 with melted fat. 



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