retraced our steps to the encampment; and on the way back Hepburn
and Keskarrah shot several waveys ( anas hyperborea) which
afforded us a seasonable supply, our stock of provision being nearly
exhausted. These birds were feeding in large flocks on the crow-
berries, which grew plentifully on the sides of the hills. We reached
the encampment after dark, and found a comfortable hut prepared
for our reception, made an excellent supper, and slept soundly
though it snowed hard the whole night.
The hills in this neighbourhood are higher than those about Fort
Enterprise; they stand, however, in the same detached manner,
without forming connected ranges; and the bottom of every .valley
is occupied, either by a small lake or a stony marsh. On the
borders of such of these lakes as communicate with the Copper-Mine
River, there are a few groves of spruce-trees, generally growing on
accumulations of sand, on the acclivities of the hills.
We did not quit the encampment on the morning of September
13th until nine o’clock, in consequence of a constant fall of snow;
but at that hour we set out on our return to Fort Enterprise, and
taking a route somewhat different from the one by which we came,
kept to the eastward of a chain of lakes. Soon after noon the
weather became extremely disagreeable; a cold northerly gale
came on, attended by snow and sleet; and the temperature fell very
soon from 43° to 34°. The waveys, alarmed at the sudden change,
flew over our heads in great numbers to a milder climate. We
walked as quickly as possible to get to a place that would furnish
some fuel and shelter; but the fog occasioned us to make frequent
halts, from the inability of our guide to trace his way. At length
we came to a spot which afforded us plenty of dwarf birches, but
they were so much frozen, and the snow fell so thick, that upwards
of two hours were wasted in endeavouring to make a fire; during
which time our clothes were freezing upon us. At length our efforts
were crowned with success, and after a good supper, we laid, or