Page:Narrative of the Discoveries on the North Coast of America.djvu/132

 falsehood and extortion, fell upon them; and, of the four, one only escaped, wounded, by flying to the woods. The traders have long been at great pains to effect a permanent reconciliation between these hereditary enemies. For this purpose, in 1817, and again in 1819, Mr. Dease gave considerable presents to the Loucheux chief to negotiate a peace, which lasted for several years.

We waited to obtain some observations, which gave the lat. 66° 16′ N., variation 44° 12′ 3″ E. The temperature of the air was 72°. We then took our final departure for the ocean, and soon crossed the Arctic circle. At 9 we put ashore for supper, and at 10 re-embarked.

The weather on the 6th was still warmer, the thermometer in the shade standing at 77° and rising 30° higher when exposed to the sun in the boat. The majestic river and its high banks were steeped in a flood of light, and, except the diminutive size of the wood, there was nothing in the landscape to suggest the thought that we had penetrated so far into the regions of the north. At 5 we reached the spot where Fort Good Hope stood during Sir John Franklin's last expedition, and landed to obtain the variation; after which we pursued our route throughout the night.