OF THE POLAR SEA. 



101 



ably fine, that we procured another set of 

 observations for the dip of the needle in the 

 open air ; the instrument being placed firmly 

 on a rock, the results gave 83° 14' 22". 

 The change produced by reversing the face 

 of the instrument was 12° 50' 55" . 



There had been a determined thaw during 

 the last three days. The ice on the Saskat- 

 chawan River, and some parts of the lake, 

 broke up, and the travelling across either 

 became dangerous. On this account the 

 absence of Wilks, one of our men, caused 

 no small anxiety. He had incautiously un- 

 dertaken the conduct of a sledge and dogs, 

 in company with a person going to Swampy 

 River for fish. On their return, being un- 

 accustomed to driving, he became fatigued, 

 and seated himself on his sledge, where his 

 companion left him, presuming that he 

 would soon rise and hasten to follow his 

 track. He however returned safe in the 

 morning, and reported that, foreseeing night 

 would set in before he could get across the 

 lake, he prudently retired into the woods 

 before dark, where he remained until day- 



