rather sat down to sleeps for the nature of the ground obliged us
to pass the night in a demi-erect position, with our backs against a
bank of earth. The thermometer was 169 at six P,M.
After enjoying a more comfortable night’s rest than we had expected,
we set off at day-break: the thermometer then standing at
18°. The ground was covered with snow, the small lakes were
frozen, and the whole scene had a wintry appearance. We got on
but slowly at first, owing to an old sprained ancle, which had been
very troublesome to me for the last three days, and was this morning
excessively painful. In fording a rivulet, however, the application of
cold water gave me immediate relief, and I walked with ease the
remainder of the day. In the afternoon we rejoined our track outwards
and came to the place where Keskarrah had made his deposit
of provision, which proved a very acceptable supply, as our stock was
exhausted. We then crossed some sand hills, and encamped amidst
a few small pines, having walked thirteen miles.
The comfort of a good fire made us soon insensible to the fatigue
we had experienced through the day, in marching over the rugged
stones, whose surface was rendered slippery by the frost. The thermometer
at seven P.M. stood at 27°.
We set off at sunrise next morning, and our provision being expended,
pushed on as fast as we could to Port Enterprise, where we
arrived at eight P.M., almost exhausted by a harassing day’s march
of twenty-two miles. A substantial supper of rein-deer steaks soon
restored our vigour. We had the happiness of meeting our friends
Mr. Back and Mr. Hood, who had returned from their excursion on
the day succeeding that on which we set out; and I received from
them the following account of their journey.
They proceeded up the Winter River to the north end of the
Little Marten Lake, and then the guide, being unacquainted with
the route by water to the Copper-Mine River, proposed that the
canoe should be left. Upon this they ascended the loftiest hill in
2 H 2