divided into watches for the night; a precaution intended to be
taken throughout the journey, not merely to prevent our being
surprised by strangers, but also to shew our companions that we
were constantly on our guard. The chief who suffered nothing to
escape his observation, remarked, “ that he should sleep without
anxiety among the Esquimaux, for he perceived no enemy could
surprise us.” -
After supper we retired to rest, but our sleep was soon interrupted
by the Indians joining in loud lamentations over a sick child, whom
they supposed to be dying. Dr. Richardson, however, immediately
went to the boy, and administered some medicine which relieved
his pain, and put a stop to their mourning. The temperatures,
this day, were at four A.M., 54°, three P.M. 72°, at seven P.M. 65°.
On the 4th we crossed a small lake, and passed in succession over
the Blue Berry Cascade, and Double Fall Portages, where the river
falls over ridges of rocks that completely obstruct the passage for
canoes. We came to three strong rapids beyond these barriers,
which were surmounted by the aid of the poles and lines, and then
to a bend of the river in which the cascades were so frequent, that
to avoid them we carried the canoes into a chain of small lakes.
We entered them by a portage of nine hundred and fifty paces, and
during the afternoon traversed three other grassy lakes and encamped
on the banks of the river, at the end of the Yellow-Knife
Portage, of three hundred and fifty paces. This day’s work was
very laborious to our men. Akaitcho, however, had directed his
party to assist them in carrying their burdens on the portages, which
they did cheerfully. This morning Mr. Back caught several fish
with a fly, a method of fishing entirely new to the Indians; and
they were not more delighted than astonished at his skill and
success. The extremes of temperature to-day were 54° and 65°.
On August 5th we continued the ascent of the river which varied
much in breadth as did the current in rapidity. It flows between
high rocky banks on which there is a sufficient soil to support pines,
birch, and poplars. Five portages were crossed, then the Rocky
Lake, and we finished our labours at the end of the sixth portage.
The issue of -dried meat for breakfast this morning had exhausted
all our stock; and no other provision remained but the portable
soups, and a few pounds of preserved meat. At the recommendation
of Akaitcho, the hunters were furnished with ammunition, and
desired to go forward as speedily as possible, to the part where the
rein-deer were expected to be found; and to return to us with any
provision they could procure. He also assured us that in our
advance towards them we should come to lakes abounding in fish.
Many of the Indians being likewise in distress for food, decided on
separating from us, and going on at a quicker pace than we could
travel.
Akaitcho himself was always furnished with a portion at our
meals, as a token of regard which the traders have taught the chiefs
to expect, and which we willingly paid.
The next morning we crossed a small lake and a portage, before
we entered the river; shortly afterwards, the canoes and cargoes
were carried a mile along its banks, to avoid three very strong rapids,
and over another portage into a narrow lake; we encamped on an
island in the middle of it, to set the nets; but they only yielded a
few fish, and we had a very scanty supper, as it was necessary to
deal out our provision sparingly. The longitude 114° 27' 03'' W.
and variation 33° 04" E., were observed.
; We had the mortification of finding the nets entirely empty next
morning, an untoward circumstance that discouraged our voyagers
very much; and they complained of being unable to support the
fatigue to which they were daily exposed, on their present scanty fare.
We had seen with regret that the portages were more frequent as we
advanced to the northward, and feared that their strength would