w strong, or to
shield the eyes when the sun shone too brightly on the glittering sheet
of white.

The cariole, such as I was now seated in, is a somewhat simple vehicle.
It is formed of a very thin board ten feet long and fourteen inches
broad, turned up at one end in the form of a half-circle. To this board
a high cradle, like the body of a small carriage, is attached, about
eighteen inches from the end of the floor-board. The framework is
covered with buffalo-skin parchment, and painted according to the taste
of the builder. The inside is lined with a blanket or buffalo-robe; and
when the traveller is seated in it, with his legs stretched out at his
ease, he is only separated from the snow by the before-mentioned
floor-board. Eight, twelve, or even more dogs form the team of a
cariole, dragging it by long traces attached to collars which are
ornamented with bead-work and tassels, and a string of small bells,
which emit a pleasant tinkling sound.

The driver runs behind the cariole, guiding it by means of a line
fastened to the floor which projects behind the seat.

When he gets tired of running, he stands on this projecting board; or
should there be any luggage, he sits on the top of it.

When a new road is to be made--as was the case at the present--two or
three men on snow-shoes go ahead and beat down the snow, making the road
just wide enough for the passage of a cariole. The dogs seldom attempt
to go off the track thus formed, though the first four or five teams
have the hardest work; after which the road becomes hard, and the rest
easily follow. It was curious to look forward and back at the long thin
line, like some vast serpent moving over the snowy plain, following all
the windings of the pioneers ahead; and it was cheering to hear the
tinkling sound of the bells, and the voices of the drivers as they urged
on the dogs.

When we encamped for the night, a small tent for the ladies, and another
for two or three of the superior officers who required the luxury, were
pitched; fires were lighted as close to them as safety would allow, or
sometimes one long fire at which the cooks at once commenced operations.

Supper over, a short time was spent in conversation, and then all the
party except those on guard betook themselves to repose. The greater
number, who slept in the open air, rolled themselves up in their
buffalo-robes in two lines, one on each side of the fire, with their
feet towards it. Most