January 1, 1821.

We set out with a quick step, the wind still blowing fresh from the north-west, which seemed in some measure to invigorate the dogs; for towards sunset they left me considerably behind.  Indeed my legs and ankles were now so swelled that it was excessive pain to drag the snowshoes after me.  At night we halted on the banks of Stony River, when I gave the men a glass of grog to commemorate the new year, and the next day, January 2, we arrived at Fort Chipewyan, after a journey of ten days and four hours—­the shortest time in which the distance had been performed at the same season.  I found Messrs. G. Keith and S. McGillivray in charge of the fort, who were not a little surprised to see me.  The commencement of the New Year is the rejoicing season of the Canadians when they are generally intoxicated for some days.  I postponed making any demand till this time of festivity should cease; but on the same day I went over to the Hudson’s Bay fort and delivered Lieutenant Franklin’s letters to Mr. Simpson.  If they were astonished on one side to see me, the amazement was still greater on the other for reports were so far in advance that we were said to have already fallen by the spears of the Esquimaux.

January 3.

I made a demand from both parties for supplies such as ammunition, gun-flints, axes, files, clothing, tobacco and spirits.  I stated to them our extreme necessity and that without their assistance the Expedition must be arrested in its progress.  The answer from the North-West gentlemen was satisfactory enough; but on the Hudson’s Bay side I was told that any further assistance this season entirely depended on the arrival of supplies expected in a few weeks from a distant establishment.  I remained at Fort Chipewyan five weeks during which time some laden sledges did arrive, but I could not obtain any addition to the few articles I had procured at first.  A packet of letters for us from England having arrived I made preparations for my return, but not before I had requested both Companies to send next year from the depots a quantity of goods for our use specified in lists furnished to them.

The weather during my abode at Chipewyan was generally mild with occasional heavy storms, most of which were anticipated by the activity of the Aurora Borealis; and this I observed had been the case between Fort Providence and the Athabasca in December and January, though not invariably so in other parts of the country.  One of the partners of the North-West Company related to me the following singular story:  He was travelling in a canoe in the English River and had landed near the Kettle Fall when the coruscations of the Aurora Borealis were so vivid and low that the Canadians fell on their faces and began praying and crying, fearing they should be killed; he himself threw away his gun and knife that they might not attract the flashes for they were within two feet from the earth, flitting along with incredible swiftness and moving parallel to its surface.  They continued for upwards of five minutes as near as he could judge and made a loud rustling noise like the waving of a flag in a strong breeze.  After they had ceased the sky became clear with little wind.