96 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



frozen before the 6th ; but this morning the 

 ice was sufficiently firm to admit of sledges 

 crossing it. The dogs were harnessed at a 

 very early hour, and the winter operations 

 commenced by sending for a supply of fish 

 from Swampy River, where men had been 

 stationed to collect it, just before the frost 

 set in. Both men and dogs appeared to 

 enjoy the change; they started in full glee, 

 and drove rapidly along. An Indian, who 

 had come to the house on the preceding 

 evening to request some provision for his 

 family, whom he represented to be in a 

 state of starvation, accompanied them. His 

 party had been suffering greatly under the 

 epidemic diseases of hooping-cough and 

 measles ; and the hunters were still in too 

 debilitated a state to go out and provide 

 them with meat. A supply was given to 

 him, and the men were directed to bring his 

 father, an old and faithful hunter, to the 

 house, that he might have the comforts of 

 nourishment and warmth. He was brought 

 accordingly, but these attentions were una- 

 vailing, as he died a few days afterwards. 



