OF THE POLAR SEA. 



21 



ing of the snow as to cover the distant ob- 

 jects by which our course could be directed. 

 We fortunately got a glimpse through this 

 cloud of a cluster of islands in the direction 

 of the houses, and decided on walking 

 towards them ; but in doing this we suffered 

 very much from the cold, and were obliged 

 to halt under the shelter of them, and await 

 the arrival of our Indian guide. He con- 

 ducted us between these islands, over a 

 small lake, and by a swampy river, into the 

 Athabasca Lake, from whence the establish- 

 ments were visible. At four P.M. we had 

 the pleasure of arriving at Fort Chipewyan, 

 and of being received by Messrs. Keith 

 and Black, the partners of the North- West 

 Company in charge, in the most kind and 

 hospitable manner. Thus terminated a 

 winter's journey of eight hundred and fifty- 

 seven miles, in the progress of which there 

 was a great intermixture of agreeable and dis- 

 agreeable circumstances. Could the amount 

 of each be balanced, I suspect the latter 

 would much preponderate ; and amongst 

 these the initiation into walking in snow- 



