416 



A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



September 22. — After walking about two miles this morning, we 

 came upon the borders of a large lake, whose extremities could not 

 be discerned in consequence of the density of the atmosphere ; but 

 as its shores seemed to approach nearer to each other to the south- 

 ward than to the northward, we determined on tracing it in that 

 direction. We were grieved at finding the lake expand very 

 much beyond the contracted part we had first seen, and incline now 

 to the eastward of south. As it was considered more than pro- 

 bable, from the direction and size of the body of water we were 

 now tracing, that it was a branch of Point Lake ; and as, in any 

 case, we knew that by passing round its south end, we must shortly 

 come to the Copper-Mine River, our course was continued in that 

 direction. The appearance of some dwarf pines and willows, larger 

 than usual, induced us to suppose the river was near. We en- 

 camped early, having come eight miles. Our supper consisted of tripe 

 de roche and half a partridge each. 



Our progress next day was extremely slow, from the difficulty of 

 managing the canoe in passing over the hills, as the breeze was fresh. 

 Peltier, who had it in charge, having received several severe falls, be- 

 came impatient, and insisted on leaving his burden, as it had already 

 been much injured by the accidents of this day ; and no arguments 

 we could use were sufficient to prevail on him to continue carrying 

 it. Vaillant was, therefore, directed to take it, and we proceeded 

 forward. Having found he got on very well, and was walking 

 even faster than Mr. Hood could, in his present debilitated state, I 

 pushed forward to stop the rest of the party, who had got out of 

 our sight during the delay which the discussion about the canoe 

 had occasioned. I accidentally passed the body of the men, and 

 followed the tracks of two persons, who had separated from the 

 rest, until two P.M., when, not seeing any person, I retraced my 

 steps, and on my way met Dr. Richardson, who had also missed the 

 party whilst he was employed gathering tripe de roche, and we went 



