OF THE POLAR SEA. 



29 



the small streams that trickled from above, as to be almost impass- 

 able. In the course of the day we passed the scene of a very me- 

 lancholy accident. Some years ago, two families of Indians, induced 

 by the flatness of a small beach, which lay betwixt the cliff and the 

 river, chose it as the site of their encampment. They retired 

 quietly to rest, not aware that the precipice, detached from the bank, 

 and urged by an accumulation of water in the crevice behind, was 

 tottering to its base. It fell during the night, and the whole party 

 was buried under its ruins. 



The length of our voyage to-day was, in a direct line, sixteen 

 miles and a quarter, on a S.S.W. course. We encamped soon after 

 sunset, and the tent was scarcely pitched when it began to rain 

 heavily, and continued to do so all night. 



Sixteen miles on the 11th, and five on the following morning, 

 brought us to the commencement of Hayes' Eiver, which is formed 

 by the confluence of the Shamattawa and Steel Eivers. Our 

 observations place this spot in latitude 56° %%' 3%" N., longitude 

 93° 1' 37" W. It is forty-eight miles and a half from York Factory, 

 including the windings of the river. Steel River, through which our 

 course lay, is about three hundred yards wide at its mouth; its 

 banks have more elevation than those of Hayes' River, but they 

 shelve more gradually down to the stream, and afford a tolerably 

 good towing path, which compensates, in some degree, for the 

 rapids and frequent shoals that impede its navigation. We suc- 

 ceeded in getting about ten miles above the mouth of the river, 

 before the close of day compelled us to disembark. 



We made an effort, on the morning of the 13th, to stem the cur- 

 rent under sail, but as the course of the river was very serpentine, 

 we found that greater progress could be made by tracking. Steel 

 River presents much beautiful scenery ; it winds through a narrow, 

 but well-wooded, valley, which at every turn disclosed to us an 

 agreeable variety of prospect, rendered more picturesque by the 



