OF THE POLAR SEA. 



167 



to a part where the river takes a great cir- 

 cuit, and its course is interrupted by seve- 

 ral heavy falls. The guide, therefore, ad- 

 vised us to quit it, and proceed through a 

 chain of nine lakes extending to the north- 

 east, which we did, and encamped on Icy 

 Portage, where the nets were set. The 

 bottom of the valley, through which the 

 track across this portage led, was covered 

 with ice four or five feet thick, the remains 

 of a large iceberg, which is annually formed 

 there, by the snow drifting into the valley, 

 and becoming consolidated into ice by the 

 overflowing of some springs that are warm 

 enough to resist the winter's cold. The 

 latitude is 63° 22' \5" N., longitude 

 114° W 30" W. 



We were alarmed in the night by our 

 fire communicating to the dry moss, which, 

 spreading by the force of a strong wind, 

 encircled the encampment and threatened 

 destruction to our canoes and baggage. 

 The watch immediately aroused all the 

 men, who quickly removed whatever could 



