OF THE POLAR SEA. 



123 



those of the Clear Water River. At sunset 

 we encamped on a small sandy island, but 

 the next morning made a speedy retreat to 

 the canoes, the water having nearly over- 

 flown our encampment. We passed two 

 deserted settlements of the fur traders on 

 opposite banks, at a place called Pierre au 

 Calumet. Beyond it the hills disappeared, 

 and the banks were no longer visible above 

 the trees. The river carries away yearly 

 large portions of soil, which increases its 

 breadth, and diminishes its depth, rendering 

 the water so muddy as to be scarcely 

 drinkable. Whole forests of timber are 

 drifted down the stream, and choke up the 

 channels between the islands at its mouth. 

 We observed the traces of herds of buffa- 

 loes, where they had crossed the river, the 

 trees being trodden d©wn and strewed, as 

 if by a whirlwind. 



At four P.M. we left the main branch of 

 the Athabasca, entering a small river called 

 the Embarras. It is narrow and muddy, 

 with pines of an enormous size on its banks. 

 Some of them are two hundred feet high, 



