OF THE POLAR SEA. 



35 



summit, the earth opened and ingulphed 

 both herself and the mountain, to the utter 

 dismay of the men, who were not more 

 astonished at its sudden disappearance, than 

 sorrowful for this just punishment of their 

 wickedness. Ever since this event, the 

 copper has only been found in small de- 

 tached pieces on the surface of the earth." 



On the 10th of May we were gratified 

 by the appearance of spring, though the ice 

 remained firm on the lake. The anemone 

 (pulsatilla, pasque flower,) appeared this 

 day in flower, the trees began to put forth 

 their leaves, and the musquitoes visited the 

 warm rooms. On the 17th and 18th there 

 were frequent showers of rain, and much 

 thunder and lightning. This moist weather 

 caused the ice to waste so rapidly, that by 

 the 24th it had entirely disappeared from 

 the lake. The gentlemen belonging to 

 both the Companies quickly arrived from 

 the different posts in this department, 

 bringing their winter's collection of furs, 

 d 2 



