The rest of the party were brought across this morning and we were delighted to find Belanger so much recovered as to be able to proceed, but we could not set out until noon as the men had to prepare substitutes for the slings which were lost yesterday.  Soon after leaving the encampment we discerned a herd of deer and after a long chase a fine male was killed by Perrault, several others were wounded but they escaped.  After this we passed round the north end of a branch of the lake and ascended the Willingham Mountains, keeping near the border of the lake.  These hills were steep, craggy, and covered with snow.  We encamped at seven and enjoyed a substantial meal.  The party were in good spirits this evening at the recollection of having crossed the rapid and being in possession of provision for the next day.  Besides we had taken the precaution of bringing away the skin of the deer to eat when the meat should fail.  The temperature at six P.M. was 30 degrees.

We started at seven next morning and marched until ten when the appearance of a few willows peeping through the snow induced us to halt and breakfast.  Recommencing the journey at noon we passed over a more rugged country where the hills were separated by deep ravines whose steep sides were equally difficult to descend and to ascend, and the toil and suffering we experienced were greatly increased.

The party was quite fatigued when we encamped, having come ten miles and three-quarters.  We observed many summer deer roads and some recent tracks.  Some marks that had been put up by the Indians were also noticed.  We have since learned that this is a regular deer pass and, on that account, annually frequented by the Copper Indians.  The lake is called by them Contwoyto or Rum Lake in consequence of Mr. Hearne having here given the Indians who accompanied him some of that liquor.  Fish is not found here.

We walked next day over a more level country but it was strewed with large stones.  These galled our feet a good deal; we contrived however to wade through the snow at a tolerably quick pace until five P.M., having proceeded twelve miles and a half.  We had made today our proper course south by east which we could not venture upon doing before for fear of falling again upon some branch of the Contwoyto.  Some deer were seen in the morning but the hunters failed of killing any and in the afternoon we fell into the track of a large herd which had passed the day before but did not overtake them.  In consequence of this want of success we had no breakfast and but a scanty supper, but we allayed the pangs of hunger by eating pieces of singed hide.  A little tripe de roche* was also obtained.  These would have satisfied us in ordinary times but we were now almost exhausted by slender fare and travel and our appetites had become ravenous.  We looked however with humble confidence to the Great Author and Giver of all good for a continuance of the support which had hitherto been always supplied to us at our greatest need.  The thermometer varied today between 25 and 28 degrees.  The wind blew fresh from the south.