OF THE POLAR SEA. 



99 



this service. They are furnished with a sufficiency of provision to 

 serve until they reach the part where the Indians are expected to be ; 

 but it frequently occurs that, on their arrival at the spot, they have 

 gone elsewhere, and that a recent fall of snow has hidden their 

 track, in which case the voyagers have to wander about in search of 

 them ; and it often happens, when they succeed in finding the In- 

 dians, that they are unprovided with meat. Mr. Isbester had been 

 placed in this distressing situation only a few weeks ago, and passed 

 four days without either himself or his dogs tasting food. At length, 

 when he had determined on killing one of the dogs to satisfy his 

 hunger, he happily met with a beaten track, which led him to some 

 Indian lodges, where he obtained a supply of food. 



The morning of the 21st was cold, but pleasant for travelling. 

 We left Mr. Isbester and his companion, and crossed the peninsula 

 of Musquito Point, to avoid a detour of several miles which the 

 river makes. Though we put up at an early hour, we gained eleven 

 miles this day. Our encampment was at the lower extremity of 

 Tobin's Falls. The snow being less deep on the rough ice which 

 enclosed this rapid, we proceeded, on the 2 2d, at a quicker pace 

 than usual, though at the expense of great suffering to Mr. Back, 

 myself, and Hepburn, all our feet being much galled. After passing 

 Tobin's Falls, the river expands to the breadth of five hundred 

 yards, and its banks are well wooded with pines, poplars, birch, 

 and willows. Many tracks of moose-deer and wolves were observed 

 near the encampment. 



On the 23d the sky was generally overcast, and there were several 

 snow showers. We saw two wolves and some foxes cross the river in 

 the course of the day, and passed many tracks of the moose and red 

 deer. Soon after we had encamped the snow fell heavily, which was 

 an advantage to us after we had retired to rest, by its affording an 

 additional covering to our blankets. The next morning, whilst at 

 breakfast, two men arrived from Carlton on their way to Cumberland. 



O 2 



