OF THE POLAR SEA. 



185 



before the wind is very liable to burst asunder, when on the top of 

 a wave, so that part of the bottom is out of the water; for there is 

 nothing to support the weight of its heavy cargo but the bark, and 

 the slight gunwales attached to it. 



On making known our exigencies to the gentlemen in charge of the 

 Hudson's Bay and North West Companies' forts, they made up an 

 assortment of stores, amounting to five bales ; for four of which we 

 were indebted to Mr. Mac Leod of the North West Company, who 

 shared with us the ammunition absolutely required for the support 

 of his post ; receiving in exchange an order for the same quantity 

 upon the cargo which we expected to follow us from York Factory. 

 We had heard from Mr. Stuart that Fort Chipewyan was too much 

 impoverished to supply the wants of the expedition, and we found 

 Isle a la Crosse in the same condition ; which indeed we might have 

 foreseen, from the exhausted state of Cumberland House, but could 

 not have provided against. We never had heard before our de- 

 parture from York, that the posts in the interior only received an- 

 nually the stores necessary for the consumption of a single year. 

 It was fortunate for us that Mr. Franklin had desired ten bags of 

 pemmican to be sent from the Saskatchawan across the plains to 

 Isle a la Crosse for our use. This resource was untouched, but we 

 could not embark more than five pieces in our own canoes. How- 

 ever Mr. Mac Leod agreed to send a canoe after us to the Methye 

 Portage, with the pemmican, and we calculated that the diminution 

 of our provision would there enable us to receive it. 



The Beaver River enters it on the S.E. side, and another river 

 which has not been named, on the S.W. Both these rivers are 

 branches of the Missinnippi, as it is the only outlet from the lake. The 

 banks appeared to be rocky, and the beach in many places sandy, 

 but its waters are yellow and muddy. It produces a variety of fish, 

 among which its white fish are esteemed the best in the country. 

 The only birds visible at this season, are common to every part of 



2 B 



