OF THE POLAR SEA. 



193 



CHAPTEK VI. 



Departure from Chipewyan — Difficulties of the various Navigations of the Rivers, and Lakes, 

 and of the Portages — Slave Lake and Fort Providence— Scarcity of Provisions, and 

 discontent of the Canadian Voyagers — Difficulties with regard to the Indian Guides — 

 Refusal to proceed — Visit of Observation to the Upper part of Copper-Mine River — 

 Return to the Winter- Quarters of Fort Enterprise. 



July 18. Eaely this morning the stores were distributed to the 

 three canoes. Our stock of provision unfortunately did not amount 

 to more than sufficient for one day's consumption, exclusive of two 

 barrels of flour, three cases of preserved meats, some chocolate, 

 arrow-root, and portable soup, which we had brought from England, 

 and intended to reserve for our journey to the coast next season. 

 Seventy pounds of moose meat and a little barley were all that Mr. 

 Smith was enabled to give us. It was gratifying, however, to per- 

 ceive that this scarcity of food did not depress the spirits of our 

 Canadian companions, who cheerfully loaded their canoes, and em- 

 barked in high glee after they had received the customary dram. 

 At noon we bade farewell to our kind friend Mr. Smith. The crews 

 commenced a lively paddling song on quitting the shore, which was 

 continued until we had lost sight of the houses. We soon reached 

 the western boundary of the lake, and at two entered the Stoney 

 Kiver, one of the discharges of the Athabasca Lake into the Slave 

 Eiver, and having a favouring current passed swiftly along. This 

 narrow stream is confined between low swampy banks, which sup- 



