OF THE POLAR SEA. 



161 



his friends ; when he thought himself, how- 

 ever, out of reach of our observation, he 

 laid aside a good deal of his state, and 

 assisted in the labour ; and, after a few 

 days further acquaintance with us, he did 

 not hesitate to paddle in our presence, or 

 even carry his canoe on the portages. Se- 

 veral- of the canoes were managed by 

 women, who proved to be noisy compa- 

 nions, for they quarrelled frequently, and 

 the weakest was generally profuse in her 

 lamentations, which were not at all dimi- 

 nished when the husband attempted to settle 

 the difference by a few blows with his 

 paddle. 



An observation, near the centre of the 

 lake, gave 114° 13' 39" W., and 33° 8' 06" 

 E., variation. 



Leaving the lake, we ascended a very 

 strong rapid, and arrived at a range of three 

 steep cascades, situated in the bend of the 

 river. Here we made a portage of one 

 thousand three hundred yards over a rocky 

 hill, which received the name of the Bow- 

 string Portage, from its shape. We found 



i VOL. II. M 



