OF THE POLAR SEA. 173 



thin pine groves occur, but the country in 

 general is destitute of almost every vege- 

 table, except a few berry-bearing shrubs 

 and lichens, and has a very"barren aspect. 

 The hills are composed of gneiss, but their 

 acclivities are covered with a coarse gra- 

 velly soil. There are many large loose 

 stones both on their sides and summits, 

 composed of the same materials as the solid 

 rock. 



We crossed another lake in the evening, 

 encamped and set the nets. The chief 

 made a large fire to announce our situation 

 to the hunters. 



August 13. — We caught twenty fish this 

 morning, but they were small, and furnished 

 but a scanty breakfast for the party. Whilst 

 this meal was preparing, our Canadian voy- 

 agers, who had been for some days past 

 murmuring at their meagre diet, and striv- 

 ing to get the whole of our little provision 

 to consume at once, broke out into open 

 (discontent, and several of them threatened 

 they would not proceed forward, unless 

 more food was given to them. This con- 



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