OF THE POLAR SEA. 



237 



their return, and after a comfortless and laborious march regained 

 their canoe on the 10th, and embarking in it, arrived the same even- 

 ing at the house. 



Point Lake varied, as far as they traced, from one to three miles 

 in width. Its main course was nearly east and west, but several 

 arms branched off in different directions. The annexed sketch, 

 by Mr. Hood, of the party when they first got sight of Point 

 Lake, conveys the most accurate representation of their mode of 

 travelling, and of the character of the country. I was much pleased 

 with the able manner in which these officers executed the service 

 they had been despatched upon, and was gratified to learn from 

 them, that their companions had conducted themselves extremely 

 well, and borne the fatigues of their journey most cheerfully. They 

 scarcely ever had more than sufficient fuel to boil the kettle ; and 

 were generally obliged to He down in their wet clothes, and conse- 

 quently, suffered much from cold. 



The distance which the parties have travelled, in their journey to 

 and from Point Lake, may be estimated at one hundred and ten 

 statute miles, which being added to the distances given in the 

 preceding pages, will amount to one thousand five hundred and 

 twenty miles that the expedition has travelled in 1820, up to the 

 time of its residence at Fort Enterprise. 



