98 



A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



of beating the track for the dogs was so very fatiguing, that each of 

 the men took the lead in turn, for an hour and a half. The 

 scenery of the banks of the river improved as we advanced to-day ; 

 some firs and poplars were intermixed with the willows. We passed 

 through two creeks, formed by islands, and encamped on a pleasant 

 spot on the north shore, having only made six miles and three 

 quarters actual distance. 



The next day we pursued our course along the river ; the dogs had 

 the greatest difficulty in dragging their heavy burdens through 

 the snow. We halted to refresh them at the foot of Sturgeon 

 River, and obtained the latitude 53° 51' 41" N". This is a small 

 stream, which issues from a neighbouring lake. We encamped 

 near to Musquito Point, having walked about nine miles. The ter- 

 mination of the day's journey was a great relief to me, who had been 

 suffering during the greater part of it, in consequence of my feet 

 having been galled by the snow-shoes ; this, however, is an evil which 

 few escape on their initiation to winter travelling. It excites no 

 pity from the more experienced companions of the journey, who 

 travel on as fast as they can, regardless of the pain of the sufferer. 



Mr. Isbester, and an Orkney man, joined us from Cumberland 

 House, and brought some pemmican which we had left behind ; a 

 supply which was very seasonable after our recent loss. The general 

 occupation of Mr. Isbester during the winter, is to follow or find out 

 the Indians, and collect their furs, and his present journey will 

 appear adventurous to persons accustomed to the certainty of travel- 

 ling on a well-known road. He is going in search of a band of 

 Indians, of whom no information had been received since last Oc- 

 tober, and his only guide for finding them was their promise to hunt 

 in a certain quarter ; but he looked at the jaunt with indifference, 

 and calculated on meeting them in six or seven days, for which time 

 only he had provision. Few persons in this country suffer more 

 from want of food than those occasionally do who are employed on 



