OF THE POLAR SEA. 



207 



and the bottom of every valley is occupied, 

 either by a small lake or a stony marsh. 

 On the borders of such of these lakes as 

 communicate with the Copper-Mine River, 

 there are a few groves of spruce trees, ge- 

 nerally growing on accumulations of sand, 

 on the acclivities of the hills. 



We did not quit the encampment on the 

 morning of 13th September until nine 

 o'clock, in consequence of a constant fall of 

 snow ; but at that hour we set out on our 

 return to Fort Enterprise, and taking a 

 route somewhat different from the one by 

 which we came, kept to the eastward of a 

 chain of lakes. Soon after noon the weather 

 became extremely disagreeable ; a cold 

 northerly gale came on, attended by snow 

 and sleet ; and the temperature fell very 

 soon from 43° to 34°. The waveys, alarmed 

 at the sudden change, flew over our heads 

 in great numbers to a milder climate. We 

 walked as quickly as possible to get to a 

 place that would furnish some fuel and 

 shelter ; but the fog occasioned us to make 

 frequent halts, from the inability of our 



