likely they would keep on the borders of the lake.  He accordingly set out after Mr. Back whilst we returned about a mile towards the rapid and encamped in a deep valley amongst some large willows.  We supped on the remains of the putrid deer and the men, having gone to the spot where it was found, scraped together the contents of its intestines which were scattered on the rock and added them to their meal.  We also enjoyed the luxury today of eating a large quantity of excellent blueberries and cranberries (Vaccinium uliginosum and V. vitis idaea) which were laid bare by the melting of the snow, but nothing could allay our inordinate appetites.

In the night we heard the report of Credit’s gun in answer to our signal muskets, and he rejoined us in the morning, but we got no intelligence of Junius.  We set out about an hour after daybreak, and encamped at two P.M. between the rapids where the river was about one hundred and thirty yards wide, being its narrowest part.

DIFFICULTY AND DELAY IN CROSSING COPPER-MINE RIVER.

Eight deer were seen by Michel and Credit who loitered behind the rest of the party, but they could not approach them.  A great many shots were fired by those in the rear at partridges but they missed, or at least did not choose to add what they killed to the common stock.  We subsequently learned that the hunters often secreted the partridges they shot and ate them unknown to the officers.  Some tripe de roche was collected which we boiled for supper with the moiety of the remainder of our deer’s meat.  The men commenced cutting the willows for the construction of the raft.  As an incitement to exertion I promised a reward of three hundred livres to the first person who should convey a line across the river by which the raft could be managed in transporting the party.

MELANCHOLY AND FATAL RESULTS THEREOF.

September 29.

Strong south-east winds with fog in the morning, more moderate in the evening.  Temperature of the rapid 38 degrees.  The men began at an early hour to bind the willows in fagots for the construction of the raft, and it was finished by seven but, as the willows were green, it proved to be very little buoyant, and was unable to support more than one man at a time.  Even on this however we hoped the whole party might be transported by hauling it from one side to the other, provided a line could be carried to the other bank.  Several attempts were made by Belanger and Benoit, the strongest men of the party, to convey the raft across the stream, but they failed for want of oars.  A pole constructed by tying the tent poles together was too short to reach the bottom at a short distance from the shore, and a paddle which had been carried from the sea-coast by Dr. Richardson did not possess sufficient power to move the raft in opposition to a strong breeze which blew from the other side.  All the men suffered extremely from the coldness of the water in which they were necessarily immersed