“Tuesday, the 30th.—­Decamped at seven.  Weather mild, and walking heavy.  Our principal guide appears rapidly declining in strength, which does not surprise me, considering the laborious duty he has had to perform; always beating the track a-head, without being once relieved by his worthless associate.  Fourteen miles.

“Wednesday, the 31st.—­Started at seven.  Still very mild.  Observed a few small birch trees.  Encamped at four, P.M.  Fifteen miles.

“Thursday, the 1st of February.—­Started at the usual hour.  We have been travelling through a very rough country for these two days past.  The fact is, that our guides, having only passed here in summer, are unacquainted with the winter track.  We are, therefore, evidently pursuing a circuitous course, which, with every other disadvantage, subjects us to the risk of running short of provisions,—­a contingency which our reduced stock warns us to prepare for ere long.  We can afford no more food to the dogs; their load is now transferred to the men’s sleds.  Fifteen miles.

“Friday, the 2d.—­Decamped at seven, A.M.  Pursued our route over extensive swamps and small lakes, where there is scarcely any wood to be seen.  The face of the surrounding country being level, the least elevation commands a most extensive view; but the eye turns away in disgust from the cheerless prospect which the desolate flats present.  I deemed it expedient to curtail our allowance of provisions this evening.  Eighteen miles.

“Saturday, the 3d.—­Set off at seven, A.M.  Reached Michigama Lake at one, P.M.; on which we travelled till five o’clock, when we encamped on an island.  Proceeded twenty miles.

“Sunday, the 4th.—­Left our encampment at the usual hour.  Halted for our scanty meal at ten, A.M.  After an hour’s delay we resumed our march, and encamped at four, P.M., on an island near the mainland on the east side of the lake, having performed about twenty miles.  I here repeated to the Indians my earnest wish to proceed to Esquimaux Bay, by North River, which takes its rise in this lake.  They replied that nothing could induce them to comply with my wishes, as inevitable starvation would be the consequence; no game could be found by the way, and we would have, therefore, to depend solely on our own provisions, which were barely sufficient for the shortest route.  I had thus the mortification to find, that I should entirely fail in accomplishing the main object I had in view in crossing the country.

“Monday, the 5th.—­Decamped at seven, A.M.  Reached the mainland at half-past eight; then ascended a river flowing from the north-east, which discharges itself into Michigama Lake, Pellican taking the lead, being the only one acquainted with this part of the country.  The Indians shot an otter.  No wood to be seen, but miserably small pine, thinly scattered over the country.  Encamped at Gull Lake.  Fifteen miles.