OF THE POLAR SEA. 



197 



the half-way point, between Cumberland 

 and Carlton. The scenery of the river is 

 less pleasing beyond this point, as there is a 

 scarcity of wood. One of our men was 

 despatched after a red-deer that appeared 

 on the bank. He contrived to approach 

 near enough to fire twice, though without 

 success, before the animal moved away. 

 After a fatiguing march of seventeen miles 

 we put up at the upper Nippeween, a deserted 

 establishment ; and performed the comfort- 

 able operations of shaving and washing for 

 the first time since our departure from 

 Cumberland, the weather having been hi- 

 therto too severe. We passed an uncom- 

 fortable and sleepless night, and agreed 

 next morning to encamp in future, in the 

 open air, as preferable to the imperfect 

 shelter of a deserted house without doors or 

 windows. 



The morning was extremely cold, but 

 fortunately the wind was light, which pre- 

 vented our feeling it severely; experience 

 indeed had taught us that the sensation 

 of cold depends less upon the state of 



