The number of our hunters was now reduced to five as two of the most active declined going any farther, their father, who thought himself dying, having solicited them to remain and close his eyes.  These five were furnished with ammunition and sent forward to hunt on the south border of the lake, with directions to place any meat they might procure near the edge of the lake and set up marks to guide us to the spots.  Akaitcho, his brother, the guide, and three other men remained to accompany us.  We were much surprised to perceive an extraordinary difference in climate in so short an advance to the northward as fifty miles.  The snow here was lying in large patches on the hills.  The dwarf-birch and willows were only just beginning to open their buds which had burst forth at Fort Enterprise many days before our departure.  Vegetation seemed to be three weeks or a month later here than at that place.  We had heavy showers of rain through the night of the 22nd which melted the snow and visibly wasted the ice.

On the 23rd the men were busily employed in making their trains and in pounding the meat for pemmican.  The situation of the encampment was ascertained latitude 65 degrees 12 minutes 40 seconds North, longitude 113 degrees 8 minutes 25 seconds West, and the variation 43 degrees 4 minutes 20 seconds East.  The arrangements being completed we purposed commencing our journey next morning, but the weather was too stormy to venture upon the lake with the canoes.  In the afternoon a heavy fall of snow took place, succeeded by sleet and rain.  The north-east gale continued but the thermometer rose to 39 degrees.

June 25.

The wind having abated in the night we prepared for starting at an early hour.  The three canoes were mounted on sledges and nine men were appointed to conduct them, having the assistance of two dogs to each canoe.  The stores and provisions were distributed equally among the rest of our men, except a few small articles which the Indians carried.  The provision consisted of only two bags of pemmican, two of pounded meat, five of suet, and two small bundles of dried provision, together with fresh meat sufficient for our supper at night.  It was gratifying to witness the readiness with which the men prepared for and commenced a journey which threatened to be so very laborious, as each of them had to drag upwards of one hundred and eighty pounds on his sledge.

Our course led down the main channel of the lake, which varied in breadth from half a mile to three miles; but we proceeded at a slow pace as the snow which fell last night and still lay on the ice very much impeded the sledges.  Many extensive arms branched off on the north side of this channel and it was bounded on the south by a chain of lofty islands.  The hills on both sides rose to six or seven hundred feet and high steep cliffs were numerous.  Clusters of pines were occasionally seen in the valleys.  We put up at eight P.M. in a spot which afforded us but a few twigs for fuel.  The party was much fatigued and several of the men were affected by an inflammation on the inside of the thigh attended with hardness and swelling.  The distance made today was six miles.