OF THE POLAR SEA. 



73 



CHAPTER VI. 



Mr. Hood's Journey to the Basquiau Hill — Sojourns 

 with an Indian Party — His Journey to Chipewyan. 



Being desirous of obtaining a drawing of a 

 moose-deer, and also of making some ob- 

 servation on the height of the Aurora, I 

 set out on the 23d March, to pass a few 

 days at the Basquiau Hill. Two men ac- 

 companied me, with dogs and sledges, who 

 were going to the hill for meat. We found 

 the Saskatchawan open and were obliged 

 to follow it several miles to the eastward. 

 We did not then cross it without wading in 

 water, which had overflowed the ice; and 

 our snow shoes were encumbered with a 

 heavy weight for the remainder of the day. 

 On the south bank of the Saskatchawan 

 were some poplars ten or twelve feet in 

 circumference at the root. Beyond the 

 river we traversed an extensive swamp, 



