JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE THROUGH THE

was now Weft by North fix miles, North-Weft by Weft, the nowy moun-
tains being Weft by South from us, and flretching to the Northward as
far as we could fee. According to the information of the Indians, they
are part of the chain of mountains which we approached on the third
of this month. I obtained an obfervation this day that gave me 67. 47.
North latitude, which was farther North than I expeéted, according to the
courfe I kept; but the difference was owing to the variation of the com-
pafs, which was more Eafterly than I imagined. From hence it was
evident that thefe waters emptied themfelves into the Hyperborean
Sea; and though it was probable that, from the want of provifion, we
could not return to Athabafca in the courfe of the feafon, I neverthe-
lefs, determined to penetrate to the difcharge of them.

My new conduétor being very much difcouraged and quite tired of
his fituation, ufed his influence to prevent our proceeding. He had
never been, he faid, at the Benahulla Toe, or White Man’s Lake; and
that when he went to the Efquimaux Lake, which is at no great diftance,
he paffed over land from the place where we found him, and to that part
where the Efquimaux pafs the fummer. In fhort, my hunters alfo be-
came fo difheartened from thefe accounts, and other circumftances, that
I was confident they would have left me, if it had been in their power.
J, however, fatisfied them, in fome degree, by the affurance, that I would
proceed onwards but feven days more, and if I did not then get to’ the
fea, 1 would return. Indeed, the low ftate of our provifions, without

any other confideration, formed a very fufficient fecurity for the main-

tenance