OF THE POLAR SEA. 



279 



Finding a sufficiency of goods could not be provided at Moose- 

 Deer Island, I determined to proceed to the Athabasca Lake, and 

 ascertain the inclinations of the gentlemen there. With this view I 

 communicated my intentions to both parties ; but could only get dogs 

 enough from the North- West Company to carry the necessary provi- 

 sions for the journey. Indeed Mr. Smith informed me plainly he 

 was of opinion that nothing could be spared at Fort Chipewyan ; 

 that goods had never been transported so long a journey in the winter 

 season, and that the same dogs could not possibly go and return ; be- 

 sides, it was very doubtful if I could be provided with dogs there ; and 

 finally, that the distance was great, and would take sixteen days to per- 

 form it. He added, that the provisions would be mouldy and bad, and 

 that, from having to walk constantly on snow-shoes, I should suffer a 

 great deal of misery and fatigue. Notwithstanding these assertions, 

 on the 23d of December I left the Fort, with Beauparlant and a 

 Bois-brule, each having a sledge drawn by dogs, laden with pem- 

 mican. We crossed an arm of the lake, and entered the Little 

 Buffalo River, which is connected with the Salt River, and is about 

 fifty yards wide at its junction with the lake— the water is brackish. 

 This route is usually taken in the winter, as it cuts off a large angle 

 in going to the Great Slave River. In the afternoon we passed two 

 empty fishing-huts, and in the evening encamped amongst some high 

 pines on the banks of the river, having had several snow showers 

 during the day, which considerably impeded the dogs, so that we 

 had not proceeded more than fifteen miles. 



December 24 and 25. — We continued along the river, frequently 

 making small portages to avoid going round the points, and passed 

 some small canoes, which the Indians had left for the winter. The 

 snow was so deep that the dogs were obliged to stop every ten mi- 

 nutes to rest themselves ; and the cold so excessive, that both the 

 men were badly frozen on both sides of the face and chin. At 

 length, having come to a long meadow, which the dogs could not 



