100 



A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



Having the benefit of their track, we were, to our great joy, able to 

 get on at a quick pace without snow shoes. My only regret was, 

 that the party proceeded too fast to allow of Mr. Back's halting oc- 

 casionally, to note the bearings of the points, and delineate the course 

 of the river # , without being left behind. As the provisions were 

 getting short, I could not, therefore, with propriety, check the pro- 

 gress by interrupting the party ; and, indeed, it appeared to me less 

 necessary, as I understood the river had been carefully surveyed. In 

 the afternoon, we had to resume the incumbrance of the snow-shoes, 

 and to pass over a rugged part where the ice had been piled over a 

 collection of stones. The tracks of animals were very abundant on 

 the river, particularly near the remains of an old establishment, 

 called the Lower Nippeween. 



So much snow had fallen on the night of the 24th, that the track 

 we intended to follow was completely covered, and our march to-day 

 was very fatiguing. We passed the remains of two red-deer, lying 

 at the basis of perpendicular cliffs, from the summits of which they 

 had, probably, been forced by the wolves. These voracious animals, 

 who are inferior in speed to the moose and red-deer, are said fre- 

 quently to have recourse to this expedient in places where extensive 

 plains are bounded by precipitous cliffs. Whilst the deer are quietly 

 grazing, the wolves assemble in great numbers, and, forming a 

 crescent, creep slowly towards the herd so as not to alarm them much 

 at first, but when they perceive that they have fairly hemmed in the 

 unsuspecting creatures, and cut off their retreat across the plain, 

 they move more quickly, and with hideous yells terrify their prey and 

 urge them to flight by the only open way, which is that towards the 

 precipice ; appearing to know, that when the herd is once at full 

 speed, it is easily driven over the cliff, the rearmost urging on those 

 that are before. The wolves then descend at their leisure, and feast 



* This was afterwards done by Dr.. Richardson during a voyage to Carlton in the spring.. 



