OF THE POLAR SEA. 



63 



vations concerning the half-breed popula- 

 tion in this vicinity, coincided so exactly 

 with those which have been given of simi- 

 lar persons in Dr. Richardson's account of 

 the Crees, that any statement respecting 

 them at this place is unnecessary. Both 

 the Companies have wisely prohibited their 

 servants from intermarrying with pure In- 

 dian women, which was formerly the cause 

 of many quarrels with the tribes. 



The weather was extremely variable 

 during the month of June ; we scarcely 

 had two clear days in succession, and the 

 showers of rain were frequent ; the winds 

 were often strong, and generally blowing 

 from the north-east quarter. On the 

 evening of the 16th the Aurora Borealis 

 was visible, but after that date the nights 

 were too light for our discerning it. 



The musquitoes swarmed in great num- 

 bers about the house, and tormented us so 

 incessantly by their irritating stings, that 

 we were compelled to keep our rooms con- 

 stantly filled with smoke, which is the only 

 means of driving them away: the weather 



