OF THE POLAR SEA. 



229 



exert themselves in obtaining provision for us in return for the in- 

 teresting communications we had just made to them. 



Having received a supply of dried meat from the Indian lodges, 

 we were enabled to equip the party for the Copper-Mine River, and 

 at nine A.M., on the 29th, Mr. Back and Mr. Hood embarked 

 on that service in a light canoe, with St. Germain, eight Canadians, 

 and one Indian. We could not furnish them with more than eight 

 days' provision, which, with their blankets, two tents, and a few in- 

 struments, composed their lading. Mr. Back, who had charge of the 

 party, was directed to proceed to the river, and if, when he arrived 

 at its banks, the weather should continue to be mild, and the tem- 

 perature of the water was not lower than 40°, he might embark, and 

 descend the stream for a few days, to gain some knowledge of its 

 course, but he was not to go so far as to risk his returning to this 

 place in a fortnight with the canoe. But, if the weather should be 

 severe, and the temperature of the water below 40°, he was not to 

 embark, but return immediately, and endeavour to ascertain the 

 best track for our goods to be conveyed thither next spring. 



We had seen that the water decreases rapidly in temperature at 

 this season, and I feared that, if he embarked to descend the river 

 when it was below 40°, the canoe might be frozen in, and the crew 

 have to walk back in very severe weather. 



As soon as the canoes had started, Akaitcho and the Indians took 

 their departure also, except two of the hunters, who staid behind to 

 kill deer in our neighbourhood, and old Keskarrah and his family, 

 who remained as our guests. 



The fishing-nets were this day transferred from the river in which 

 they had been set since our arrival, to Winter Lake, whither the fish 

 had removed, and the fishermen built a log-hut on its borders to 

 reside in, that they might attend more closely to their occupation. 



The month of September commenced with very disagreeable wea- 

 ther. The temperature of the atmosphere ranged between 39° and 



