e 9th and at the end of two miles regained our
hunters who were halting on the borders of a lake amidst a clump of
stunted willows. This lake stretched to the westward as far as we could
see and its waters were discharged by a rapid stream one hundred and
fifty yards wide. Being entirely ignorant where we might be led by
pursuing the course of the lake, and dreading the idea of going a mile
unnecessarily out of the way, we determined on crossing the river if
possible, and the canoe was gummed for the purpose, the willows
furnishing us with fire. But we had to await the return of Junius before
we could make the traverse. In the meantime we gathered a little tripe de
roche and breakfasted upon it and a few partridges that were killed in
the morning. St. Germain and Adam were sent upon some recent tracks of
deer. Junius arrived in the afternoon and informed us that he had seen a
large herd of musk-oxen on the banks of Cracroft's River, and had wounded
one of them but it escaped. He brought about four pounds of meat, the
remains of a deer that had been devoured by the wolves. The poor fellow
was much fatigued, having walked throughout the night but, as the weather
was particularly favourable for our crossing the river, we could not
allow him to rest. After he had taken some refreshment we proceeded to
the river. The canoe being put into the water was found extremely
ticklish, but it was managed with much dexterity by St. Germain, Adam,
and Peltier, who ferried over one passenger at a time, causing him to lie
flat in its bottom, by no means a pleasant position owing to its
leakiness, but there was no alternative. The transport of the whole party
was effected by five o'clock and we walked about two miles farther and
encamped, having come five miles and three-quarters on a south-west
course. Two young alpine hares were shot by St. Germain which with the
small piece of meat brought in by Junius furnished the supper of the
whole party. There was no tripe de roche here. The country had now become
decidedly hilly and was covered with snow. The lake preserved its western
direction as far as I could see from the summit of the highest mountain
near the encampment. We subsequently learned from the Copper Indians that
the part at which we had crossed the river was the Congecathawhachaga of
Hearne, of which I had little idea at the time, not only from the
difference of latitude, but also from its being so much farther east of
the mouth of