320 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES
our party and the canoe-men who had been encamped near to us.
The thermometer at three P.M. was 46°, at nine 341
We commenced the following day by crossing a lake about four
miles in length, and then passed over a succession of rugged hills for
nearly the same distance. The men being anxious to . reach some
pine-trees, which they had seen on their former journey, walked a
quick pace, though they were suffering from swelled legs and rheumatic
pains; we could.not, however, attain the desired point, and
therefore encamped on the declivity of a hill, which sheltered us
from the wind; and used the rein-deer moss for fuel, which afforded
us more warmth than we expected. Several patches of snow were
yet remaining on the surrounding hills. The thermometer varied
to-day between 55° and 45°.
On the 20th of June we began our march by crossing a small lake,
not without , much risk, as the surface of the ice was . covered with
■ water to the depth of two feet, and there were many holes into
-which we slipped, in.spite of our efforts to avoid them.. A few Of
the men, being fearful of attempting the traverse with their heavy
loads, w a l k e d round the eastern end of the lake. The parties met
on the sandy ridge, which separates the streams that fall into Winter
Lake from those that flow to the northward; and here we killed
three deer. Near the base of this ridge we crossed a small but rapid
stream, in which there is a remarkable cascade of about fifty feet.
Some Indians joined us here, and gave information respecting the
situation of Dr. Richardson’s tent, which our hunters considei'ed was
sufficient for our guidance, and therefore proceeded as quickly as
they could. We marched a few miles farther in the evening, and
encamped among some pines; but the comfort of a good fire did not
compensate for the torment we suffered from the host of musquitoes
at this spot. The temperature was 52°.
We set off next morning at a very early hour. The men took
the course of Point Lake, that they might use their sledges, but the
officers pursued the nearest route by land to Dr. Richardson’s tent,
which we reached at eleven A.M. It was on the western side of an
arm of the lake, and near the part through which the Copper-Mine
River runs. Our men arrived soon after us, and in the evening
Mr. Wentzel and his party, with the canoes in excellent condition.
They were much jaded by their fatiguing journey and several were
lame from swellings of the lower extremities. The ice on the lake
was still six or seven feet thick, and there was no appearance of its
decay except near the edges; and as it was evident that, by remaining
here until it should be removed, we might lose every prospect
of success in our undertaking, I determined on dragging our stores
along its surface, until we should come to a part of the river where
we could embark; and directions were' given this evening for each
man to prepare a train for the conveyance of his portion of the
stores. I may remark here, as a proof of the strong effect of radiation
from the earth in melting the ice, that the largest holes in the
ice were always formed at the base of the high and steep cliffs,
which abound on the borders of this lake.
We found Akaitcho and the hunters encamped here, but their
families, and the rest of the tribe, had gone off two days before to
the Beth-see-to, a large lake to the northward, where they intended
passing the summer. Long-legs and Keskarrah had departed, to
desire the Hook to collect as much meat as he could against our
arrival at his lodge. We were extremely distressed to learn from
Dr. Richardson, that Akaitcho and his party had expended all the
ammunition they had received at Fort Enterprise, without having
contributed any supply of provision. The Doctor had, however,
through the assistance of two hunters he kept with him, prepared
two hundred pounds of dried meat, which was now our sole dependance
for the journey. On the following morning I represented to
Akaitcho that we had been greatly disappointed by' his conduct,
2 T