OF THE POLAll SEA. 



195 



course of the river,* without being left 

 behind. As the provisions were getting 

 short, I could not, therefore, with propriety, 

 check the progress of the party ; and, in- 

 deed, it appeared to me less necessary, as I 

 understood the river had been carefully 

 surveyed. In the afternoon, we had to re- 

 sume the incumbrance of the snow-shoes, 

 and to pass over a rugged part where the 

 ice had been piled over a collection of 

 stones. The tracks of animals were very 

 abundant on the river, particularly near the 

 remains of an old establishment, called the 

 Lower Nippeween. 



So much snow had fallen on the night of 

 the 24th, that the track we intended to fol- 

 low was completely covered, and our march 

 to-day was very fatiguing. We passed the 

 remains of two red-deer, lying at the bases 

 of perpendicular cliffs, from the summits of 

 which they had, probably, been forced by 

 the wolves. These voracious animals, who 



* This was afterwards done by Dr. Richardson 

 during a voyage to Carlton in the spring. 



o2 



