OF THE POLAR SEA. 



223 



might obtain some supplies of provision. An Indian was also de- 

 spatched to Akaitcho, with directions for him to come hither directly, 

 and bring whatever provision he had, as we were desirous of pro- 

 ceeding, without delay, to the Copper-Mine Kiver. In the evening 

 our men brought in the carcasses of seven rein-deer, which two 

 hunters had shot yesterday, and the women commenced drying the 

 meat for our journey. We also obtained a good supply of fish from 

 our nets to-day. 



A heavy rain, on the 23d, prevented the men from working, 

 either at the building, or going for meat ; but on the next day the 

 weather was fine, and they renewed their labours. The thermo- 

 meter, that day, did not rise higher than 42°, and it fell to 31° be- 

 fore midnight. On the morning of the 25th, we were surprised by 

 some early symptoms of the approach of winter ; the small pools 

 were frozen over, and a flock of geese passed to the southward. In 

 the afternoon, however, a fog came on, which afterwards changed 

 into rain, and the ice quickly disappeared. We suffered great 

 anxiety all the next day respecting John Hepburn, who had gone 

 to hunt before sunrise on the 25th, and been absent ever since. 

 About four hours after his departure the wind changed, and a dense 

 fog obscured every mark by which his course to the tents could be 

 directed, and we thought it probable he had been wandering in an 

 opposite direction to our situation, as the two hunters, who had 

 been sent to look for him, returned at sunset without having seen 

 him. Akaitcho arrived with his party, and we were greatly disap- 

 pointed at finding they had stored up only fifteen rein-deer for us. 

 St. Germain informed us, that having heard of the death of the chiefs 

 brother-in-law, they had spent several days in bewailing his loss, in- 

 stead of hunting. We learned also, that the decease of this man had 

 caused another party of the tribe, who had been sent by Mr. Wentzel 

 to prepare provision for us on the banks of the Copper-Mine River, 

 to remove to the shores of the Great Bear Lake, distant from our 



