OF THE POLAR SEA. 



237 



constantly for the last six-and-thirty hours, 

 leaving his Indian companions encamped at 

 the last woods, they being unwilling to 

 accompany him across the barren grounds 

 during the storm that had prevailed for 

 several days, and blew with unusual violence 

 on the morning of his arrival. His locks 

 were matted with snow, and he was in- 

 crusted with ice from head to foot, so that 

 we scarcely recognised him when he burst 

 m upon us. We welcomed him with the 

 usual shake of the hand, but were unable 

 to give him the glass of rum which every 

 voyager receives on his arrival at a trading 

 post. 



As soon as his packet was thawed, we 

 eagerly opened it to obtain our English 

 letters. The latest were dated on the pre- 

 ceding April. They came by way of Ca- 

 nada, and were brought up in September 

 to Slave Lake by the North-West Com- 

 pany s canoes. 



We were not so fortunate with regard to 

 our stores ; of ten pieces, or bales of 90 lbs. 

 weight, which had been sent from York 



