400 



A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



lower and more round-backed than those we passed yesterday, and 

 exhibited but little naked rock ; they were covered with lichens. 



Having ascertained from the summit of the highest hill near the 

 tents, that the river continued to preserve a west course ; and fear- 

 ing that by pursuing it further we might lose much time, and un- 

 necessarily walk over a great deal of ground, I determined on 

 quitting its banks the next day, and making as directly as we could for 

 Point Lake. We accordingly followed the river on the 3d, only to 

 the place where the musk-ox had been killed last evening, and after 

 the meat was procured, crossed the river in our two canoes lashed 

 together. We now emerged from the valley of the river, and entered 

 a level, but very barren, country, varied only by small lakes and 

 marshes, the ground being covered with small stones. Many old tracks 

 of rein-deer were seen in the clayey soil, and some more recent 

 ones of the musk-ox. We encamped on the borders of Wright's 

 Kiver, which flows to the eastward ; the direct distance walked to- 

 day being ten miles and three-quarters. The next morning was 

 very fine, and, as the day advanced, the weather became quite 

 warm. We set out at six A.M., and, having forded the river, 

 walked over a perfectly level country, interspersed with small lakes, 

 which communicated with each other, by streams running in various 

 directions. No berry-bearing plants were found in this part, the 

 surface of the earth being thinly covered in the moister places with 

 a few grasses, and on the drier spots with lichens. 



Having walked twelve miles and a half, we encamped at seven P.M., 

 and distributed our last piece of pemmican, and a little arrow-root 

 tor supper, which afforded but a scanty meal. This evening was 

 warm, but dark clouds overspread the sky. Our men now began to 

 find their burdens very oppressive, and were much fatigued by this 

 day's march, but did not complain. One of them was lame from an 

 inflammation in the knee. Heavy rain commenced at midnight, and 



