OF THE POLAR SEA. 



127 



by an assemblage of islands, crossed a spot 

 where the waters had a violent whirling 

 motion, which, when the river is low, is said 

 to subside into a dangerous rapid; on the 

 present occasion no other inconvenience was 

 felt than the inability of steering the canoes, 

 which were whirled about in every direction 

 by the eddies, until the current carried them 

 beyond their influence. We encamped at 

 seven on the swampy bank of the river, but 

 had scarcely pitched the tents before we 

 were visited by a terrible thunder-storm ; 

 the rain fell in torrents, and the violence of 

 the wind caused the river to overflow its 

 banks, so that we were completely flooded. 

 Swarms of musquitoes succeeded the storm, 

 and their tormenting stings, superadded to 

 other inconveniences, induced us to embark, 

 and, after taking a hasty supper, to pursue 

 our voyage down the stream during the 

 night. 



At six on the following morning we passed 

 the Rein-Deer Islands, and at ten reached 

 the entrance of the Dog River, where we 

 halted to set the fishing nets. These were 



