166 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



to set the nets ; but they only yielded a few 

 fish, and we had a very scanty supper, as it 

 was necessary to deal out our provision 

 sparingly. The longitude, 114° 27' 03" W., 

 and variation, 33° 04" E., were observed. 



We had the mortification of finding the 

 nets entirely empty next morning, an un- 

 toward circumstance that discouraged our 

 voyagers very much ; and they complained 

 of being unable to support the fatigue to 

 which they were daily exposed, on their 

 present scanty fare. We had seen with 

 regret that the portages were more frequent 

 as we advanced to the northward, and 

 feared that their strength would fail, if pro- 

 vision were not soon obtained. We em- 

 barked at six, proceeded to the head of the 

 lake, and crossed a portage of two thousand 

 five hundred paces, leading over ridges of 

 sand-hills, which nourished pines of a larger 

 size than we had lately seen. This con- 

 ducted us to Mossy Lake, whence we re- 

 gained the river, after traversing another 

 portage. The Birch and Poplar Portages 

 next followed, and beyond these we came 



