OF THE POLAR SEA. 



29 



which the frost had so completely consoli- 

 dated, that to break through required great 

 labour, with the aid of the ice chisel, and 

 the other iron instruments which the beaver 

 hunters use. The chase, however, was 

 unsuccessful, as the beaver had previously 

 vacated the lodge. 



On the 21st we observed the first geese 

 that flew near the fort, and some were 

 brought to the house on the 30th, but they 

 were very lean. On the 25th flies were 

 seen sporting in the sun, and on the 26th 

 the Athabasca River, having broken up, 

 overflowed the lake along its channel ; but 

 except where this water spread, there was 

 no appearance of decay in the ice. 



May. — During the first part of this month, 

 the wind blew from the N.W., and the sky 

 was cloudy. It generally thawed during 

 the day, but froze at night. On the 2d the 

 Aurora faintly gleamed through very dense 

 clouds. 



We had a long conversation with Mr. 

 Dease of the North-West Company, who 

 had recently arrived from his station at the 



