OF THE POLAR SEA. 



321 



course of Point Lake, that they might use their sledges, but the 

 officers pursued the nearest route by land to Dr. Kichardson's tent, 

 which we reached at eleven A.M. It was situated on the western 

 side of an arm of the lake, and near to the part through which the 

 Copper-Mine Kiver runs. Our men arrived soon after us, and in 

 the evening Mr. Wentzel and his party, with the canoes in ex- 

 cellent condition. They were much jaded by their fatiguing 

 journey, and several were lame from swellings of the lower extre- 

 mities. The ice on the lake was still six or seven feet thick, 

 and there was no appearance of its decay except near the edges ; 

 and as it was evident that, by remaining here until it should 

 be removed, we might lose every prospect of success in our under- 

 taking, I determined on dragging our stores along its surface, until 

 we should come to a part of the river where we could embark ; and 

 directions were given this evening for each man to prepare a train 

 for the conveyance of his portion of the stores. I may remark here, 

 as a proof of the strong effect of radiation from the earth in melt- 

 ing the ice, that the largest holes in the ice were always formed at 

 the base of the high and steep cliffs, which abound on the borders 

 of this lake. 



We found Akaitcho and the hunters encamped here, but their 

 families, and the rest of the tribe, had gone off two days before to 

 the Beth-see-to, a large lake to the northward, where they in- 

 tended passing the summer. Long-legs and Keskarrah had de- 

 parted, to desire the Hook to collect as much meat as he could 

 against our arrival at his lodge. We were extremely distressed to 

 learn from Dr. Eichardson, that Akaitcho and his party had ex- 

 pended all the ammunition they had received at Fort Enterprise, 

 without having contributed any supply of provision. The Doctor 

 had, however, through the assistance of two hunters he kept with 

 him, prepared two hundred pounds of dried meat, which was now 

 our sole dependence for the journey. On the following morning I 



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