OF THE POLAR SEA. 



93 



a tree, where it would be left (I was told) 

 when they moved their encampment. 



We continued our voyage up the river to 

 the 20th with little variation of scenery or 

 incident, travelling in that time about thirty 

 miles. The near approach of winter was 

 marked by severe frosts, which continued 

 all day unless when the sun chanced to be 

 unusually bright, and the geese and ducks 

 were observed to take a southerly course in 

 large flocks. On the morning of the 20th 

 we came to a party of Indians, encamped 

 behind the bank of the river on the borders 

 of a small marshy lake, for the purpose of 

 killing water-fowl. Here we were gratified 

 with the view of a very large tent. Its 

 length was about forty feet, its breadth 

 eighteen, and its covering was moose-deer 

 leather, with apertures for the escape of the 

 smoke from the fires, which are placed at 

 each end ; a ledge of wood was placed on 

 the ground on both sides the whole length 

 of the tent, within which were the sleeping- 

 places, arranged probably according to fa- 

 milies; and the drums and other instru- 



