OF THE POLAR SEA. 



137 



sions. Mr. M' Vicar, of the Hudson's Bay 

 Company, also supplied one hundred and 

 fifty pounds. This quantity we considered 

 would be sufficient, until we could join the 

 hunters. We also obtained three fishing- 

 nets, a gun, and a pair of pistols, which 

 were all the stores these posts could furnish, 

 although the gentlemen in charge were 

 much disposed to assist us. 



Moose-Deer Island is about a mile in 

 diameter, and rises towards the centre about 

 three hundred feet above the lake. Its soil 

 is in general sandy, in some parts swampy. 

 The varieties of the northern berries grow 

 abundantly on it. The North-West Com- 

 pany's Fort is in latitude 61° 11' 8" N. ; 

 longitude 113° 51' 37" W., being two hun- 

 dred and sixty statute miles distant from 

 Fort Chipewyan, by the river course. The 

 variation of the compass is 25° 40' 47" E. 

 The houses of the two Companies are small, 

 and have a bleak northern aspect. There 

 are vast accumulations of drift wood on the 

 shores of the lake, brought down by the 

 river, which afford plenty of fuel. The in- 



