by the Indians were also noticed. We have since learned that this
is a regular deer pass, and on that account, annually frequented by
the Copper Indians. The lake is called by them Contwoy-to, or Rum
Lake; in consequence of Mr. Hearne having here given the Indians
who accompanied him some of that liquor. Fish is not found here.
We walked next day over a more level country, but it was strewed
with large stones. These galled our feet a good deal; we contrived,
however, to wade through the snow at a tolerably quick pace unti
five P.M., having proceeded twelve miles and a half. We had made
to-day our proper course, south by east, which we could not venture
upon doing before, for fear of falling again upon some branch of the
Contwoy-to.' Some deer were seen in the morning, but the hunters
failed of killing any, and in the afternoon we fell into the track of a
large herd, which had passed the day before, but did not overtake
them In consequence of this want of success we had no breakfast,
and but a scanty supper; but we allayed the pangs of hunger, by
eating pieces of singed hide. A little tripe de roche* was also
obtained. These would have satisfied us in ordinary times,' but we
were now almost exhausted by slender fare and travel, and our
appetites had become ravenous. We looked, however with humMe
confidence to the Great Author and Giver of all good, for a continuance
of the support which had hitherto been always supplied to us
at our greatest need. The thermometer varied to-day between
25° and 28°. The wind blew fresh from the south.
On the 18th the atmosphere was hazy, but the day was more
nleasant for walking than usual. The country was level and gravelly,
and the snow very deep. We went for a short time along a deeply-
beaten road made by the rein-deer, which turned suddenly off to the
south-west, a direction so wide of our course that we could not
venture upon following it. All the small lakes were frozen and we
marched across those which lay in our track. We supped off the
* The different kinds of gyrophora, are termed indiscriminately by the voyagers, tripe
de roche.