regained their canoe on the 10th, and embarking in it, arrived the
same evening at the house.
Point Lake varied as far as they traced, from one to three miles
in width. Its main course was nearly east and west, but several arms
branched off in different directions. I was much pleased with the
able manner in which these officers executed the service they had
been despatched upon, and was gratified to learn from them, that
their companions had conducted themselves extremely well, and
borne the fatigues of their journey most cheerfully. They scarcely
ever had more than sufficient fuel to boil the kettle; and were
generally obliged to lie down in their wet clothes, and consequently,
suffered much from cold.
The distance which the parties travelled, in their journey to and
from Point Lake, may be estimated at one hundred and ten statute
miles, which being added to the distances given in the preceding
pages, amount to one thousand five hundred and twenty miles that
the Expedition travelled in 1820, up to the time of its residence at
Fort Enterprise.