We were detained all the next day by a strong southerly wind and were much incommoded in the tents by the drift snow.  The temperature was 20 degrees.  The average for the last ten days about 24 degrees.  We restricted ourselves to one meal this day as we were at rest and there was only meat remaining sufficient for the morrow.

The gale had not diminished on the 12th and, as we were fearful of its continuance for some time, we determined on going forward; our only doubt regarded the preservation of the canoe, but the men promised to pay particular attention to it, and the most careful persons were appointed to take it in charge.  The snow was two feet deep and the ground much broken, which rendered the march extremely painful.  The whole party complained more of faintness and weakness than they had ever done before; their strength seemed to have been impaired by the recent supply of animal food.  In the afternoon the wind abated and the snow ceased; cheered with the change we proceeded forward at a quicker pace and encamped at six P.M. having come eleven miles.  Our supper consumed the last of our meat.

We set out on the 13th in thick hazy weather and, after an hour’s march, had the extreme mortification to find ourselves on the borders of a large lake; neither of its extremities could be seen and, as the portion which lay to the east seemed the widest, we coasted along to the westward portion in search of a crossing-place.  This lake being bounded by steep and lofty hills our march was very fatiguing.  Those sides which were exposed to the sun were free from snow and we found upon them some excellent berries.  We encamped at six P.M. having come only six miles and a half.  Credit was then missing and he did not return during the night.  We supped off a single partridge and some tripe de roche; this unpalatable weed was now quite nauseous to the whole party and in several it produced bowel complaints.  Mr. Hood was the greatest sufferer from this cause.  This evening we were extremely distressed at discovering that our improvident companions since we left Hood’s River had thrown away three of the fishing-nets and burnt the floats; they knew we had brought them to procure subsistence for the party when the animals should fail, and we could scarcely believe the fact of their having wilfully deprived themselves of this resource, especially when we considered that most of them had passed the greater part of their servitude in situations where the nets alone had supplied them with food.  Being thus deprived of our principal resource, that of fishing, and the men evidently getting weaker every day, it became necessary to lighten their burdens of everything except ammunition, clothing, and the instruments that were required to find our way.  I therefore issued directions to deposit at this encampment the dipping needle, azimuth compass, magnet, a large thermometer, and a few books we had carried, having torn out of these such parts as we should require to work the observations for latitude and longitude.  I also promised, as an excitement to the efforts in hunting, my gun to St. Germain, and an ample compensation to Adam or any of the other men who should kill any animals.  Mr. Hood on this occasion lent his gun to Michel the Iroquois, who was very eager in the chase and often successful.