east, and west points, and directed towards the zenith; in a few
seconds these disappeared, and a complete circle was displayed,
bounding the horizon at an elevation of fifteen degrees. There was
a quick lateral motion in the attenuated beams of which this zone
was composed, its colour was a pale yellow, with an occasional
tinge of red.
On the 8 th of April the Indians saw some geese in the vicinity 1
of this lake, but none of the migratory birds appeared near the houses
before the 15th, when some swans flew over. These are generally
the first that arrive; the weather had been very stormy for
the four preceding days, and this in all probability kept the birds
from venturing farther north than where the Indians had first
seen them.
In the middle of the month the snow began to waste daily, and
by degrees it disappeared from the hills and the surface of the lake.
On the 17th and 19th the Aurora appeared very brilliant in patches
of light, bearing N.W. An old Cree Indian having found a beaver
lodge near to the fort, Mr. Keith, Back, and I, accompanied him
to see the method of breaking into it, and their mode of taking
those interesting animals. The lodge was constructed on the side
of a rock in a small lake, having the entrance into it beneath the
ice. The frames were formed of layers of sticks, the interstices
being filled with mud, and the outside was plastered with earth
and stones, which the frost had so completely consolidated, that
to break through required great labour, with the aid of the ice-
chisel, and the other iron instruments which the beaver hunters
use. The chase, however, was unsuccessful, as the beaver had previously
vacated the lodge.
On the 21st we observed the first geese that flew near the fort,
and some were brought to the house on the 30th, but they were
very lean, On the 25th flies were seen sporting in the sun, and
on the 26th the Athabasca River having broken up, overflowed the
lake along its channel; but except where this water spread, .there
was no appearance of decay in the ice.
May.—During the first part of this month, the wind blew from
the N.W., and the sky was cloudy. It generally thawed, during the
day, but froze at night. On the 2d the Aurora faintly'gleamed
through very dense clouds.
We had a long conversation with Mr. Dease of the North-West
Company, who had recently arrived from his station at the bottom
of the Athabasca Lake. This gentleman, having passed several
winters on the Mackenzie’s River, and at the posts to the northward
of Slave Lake, possessed considerable information respecting the
Indians, and those parts of the country to which our inquiries were
directed, which he very promptly and kindly communicated. During
pur conversation, an old Chipewyan Indian, named the Rabbit’s Head,
entered the room, to whom Mr. Dease referred for information on
some point. We found from his answer that he was a step-son of
the late Chief Matonnabee, who had accompanied Mr. Hearne on
his journey to the. sea, and that he had himself been of the party,
but being then a mere boy, he had forgotten many of the circumstances.
He, confirmed however, the leading incidents related by
Hearne, and was positive he reached the sea, though he admitted
that none of the party had tasted the water; He represented himself
to be,the only survivor of, that party. As he. was esteemed a
good Indian, I presented, him with a medal, which he received
gratefully, and concluded a long speech upon the occasion, by
assuring me he should preserve it carefully all his life. The old
man afterwards became more communicative, and unsolicited began
to relate the tradition of his tribe, respecting the., discovery of the
Copper Mine, which.we thought amusing; and as .the subject is
somewhat connected, with our future researches, I will insert the
U