OF THE POLAR SEA. 



19 



any other. The only reasons which he 

 could assign were, that they had borne their 

 burdens across the terrible Methye Portage, 

 and that they were accustomed to live 

 harder and more precariously. 



March 25, — Having now the guidance of 

 the old Canadian, we sent forward the In- 

 dian and one of our men, with letters to 

 the gentlemen of the Athabasca Lake. The 

 rest of the party set off afterwards, and 

 kept along the river until ten, when we 

 branched off by portages into the Embarras 

 River, the usual channel of communication 

 in canoes with the lake. It is a narrow and 

 serpentine stream, confined between alluvial 

 banks which support pines, poplars, and 

 willows. We had not advanced far before 

 we overtook the two men despatched by us 

 this morning. The stormy weather had 

 compelled them to encamp, as there was too 

 much drifting of the snow for any attempt 

 to cross the lake. We were obliged, though 

 most reluctantly, to follow their example ; 

 bu"t comforted ourselves with the reflection 

 that this was the first time we had been 

 c 2 



