OF THE POLAR SEA. 



127 



stormy, and the snow had drifted too much for travelling with 

 comfort; we therefore stayed and dined with Mr. Bethune, who 

 promised to render every assistance in getting pemmican conveyed 

 to us from the Saskatchawan, to be in readiness for our canoes, when 

 they might arrive in the spring; Mr. Clark has also engaged to 

 procure six bags for us, and to furnish our canoes with any other 

 supplies which may be wanted, and can be spared from his post, and 

 to contribute his aid in forwarding the pemmican to the Athabasca, 

 if our canoes cannot carry it all. 



I feel greatly indebted to Mr. Clark, for much valuable inform- 

 ation respecting the country and the Indians residing to the north 

 of Slave Lake, and for furnishing me with a list of stores he sup- 

 posed we should require. This gentleman had resided some years on 

 Mackenzie's Eiver, and had been once so far towards its mouth as to 

 meet the Esquimaux in great numbers. But they assumed such a 

 hostile attitude, that he deemed it unadvisable to attempt opening 

 any communication with them, and retreated as speedily as he 

 could. 



The observations we obtained here shewed that the chronometers 

 had varied their rates a little, in consequence of the jolting of the 

 carioles in which we rode; but their errors and rates were ascer- 

 tained previous to our departure. We observed the position of this 

 fort to be latitude 55° 25' 35" N., longitude 107° 51' 00" W., by 

 lunars reduced back from Fort Chipewyan, variation 22° 15' 48" W., 

 dip 84° 13' 35". 



March 5. — We recommenced our journey this morning, having 

 been supplied with the means of conveyance by both the companies 

 in equal proportions. Mr. Clark accompanied us with the intention 

 of going as far as the boundary of his district. This gentleman was 

 an experienced winter traveller, and we derived much benefit from 

 his suggestions; he caused the men to arrange the encampment 

 with more attention to comfort and shelter than our former com- 



