OF THE POLAR SEA. 



179 



might not exceed the appointed time. Pre- 

 vious to his departure the chief warned us 

 to be constantly on our guard against the 

 grizzly bears, which he described as being 

 numerous in this vicinity, and very ferocious ; 

 one had been seen this day by an Indian, 

 to which circumstance the lake owes its 

 appellation. We afterwards learned that 

 the only bear in this part of the country is 

 the brown bear, and that this by no means 

 possesses the ferocity which the Indians, 

 with their usual love of exaggeration, ascribe 

 to it. The fierce grizzly bear, which fre- 

 quents the sources of the Missouri, is not 

 found on the barren grounds. 



The shores of this lake and the neigh- 

 bouring hills are principally composed of 

 sand and gravel ; they are much varied in 

 their outline, and present some picturesque 

 scenery. 



The following observations were taken 

 here: latitude 64° 15' 17" N., longitude 

 113° 2' 39" W. ; variation of the compass 

 36° 50' 47" E. ; and dip of the needle 87° 

 20' 35". 



n 2 



