We started at ten next morning. The day was extremely hot.
and the men were soon jaded; their lameness increased very much,
and some not previously affected began to complain. The dogs
too shewed symptoms of great weakness, and one of them stretched
himself obstinately on the ice, and was obliged to be released from
the harness. We were, therefore, compelled to encamp at an early
hour, having come only four miles. The sufferings of the people in
this early stage of our journey were truly discouraging to them, and
very distressing to us, whose situation was comparatively easy. I,
therefore, determined on leaving the third canoe, which had been
principally carried to provide against any accident to the others.
We should thus gain three men, to lighten the loads of those who
were most lame, and an additional dog for each of the other canoes.
It was accordingly properly secured on a stage erected for the
purpose near the encampment. Dried meat was issued for supper,
but in the course of the evening the Indians killed two deer, for
which we immediately sent.
The channel of the lake through which we had passed to-day was
bounded on both sides by islands of considerable height, presenting
bold and rugged scenery. We were informed by our guide, that a
large body of the lake lies to the northward of a long island which
we passed.
Another deer was killed next morning, but as the men breakfasted
off it before they started, the additional weight was not ma te rially
felt. The burdens of the men being considerably lightened by the
arrangements of last evening, the party walked at the rate of one
mile and three quarters an hour until the afternoon, when our pace
was slackened, as the ice was more rough, and our lame companions
felt their sores very galling. At noon we passed a deep bay on the
south side, which is said to receive a river. Throughout the day’s
march the hills on each side of the lake bore a strong- resemblance,
in height and form, to those about Fort Enterprise. We encamped
on the north main shore, among some spruce trees, having walked
eight miles and a half. Three or four fish were caught with lines
through holes, which the water had worn in the ice. We perceived
a light westerly current at these places.
It rained heavily during the night, and this was succeeded by a
d e n s e fog on the morning of the 28th. Being short of provisions
we commenced our journey, though the points of land were not
discernible beyond a short distance. The surface of the ice, being
honeycombed by the recent rains, presented innumerable sharp
points, which tore our shoes and lacerated the feet at every step.
The poor dogs, too, marked their path with their blood.
In the evening the atmosphere became clear, and, at five P.M.,
we reached the rapid by which Point Lake communicates with Red-
Bock Lake. This rapid is only one hundred yards wide, and we
were much disappointed at finding the Copper-Mine River such an
inconsiderable stream. The canoes descended the rapid, but the
cargoes were carried across the peninsula, and placed again on the
sledges, as the next lake was still frozen. We passed an extensive
arm, branching to the eastward, and encamped just below it, on the
western bank, among spruce pines, having walked six miles of direct
distance The rolled stones on the beach are principally red clay
slate, hence its Indian appellation, which we have retained.
We continued our journey at the usual hour next morning. At
noon the variation was observed to be 47» east. Our attention was
afterwards directed to some pine branches, scattered on the ice
which proved to be marks placed by our hunters, to guide us to the
spot where they had deposited the carcasses of two smaU deer. T
supply was very seasonable, and the men cheerfully dragged the
additional weight. Akaitcho, judging from the appearance of the
meat, thought it had been placed here three days ago, and that th
hunters were considerably in advance. We put up at six P. ., nea
the end of the lake, having come twelve miles and three quarters,