The chase however was unsuccessful as the beaver had previously vacated the lodge.
On the 21st we observed the first geese that flew near the fort and some were brought to the house on the 30th but they were very lean.

On the 25th flies were seen sporting in the sun and on the 26th the Athabasca River, having broken up, overflowed the lake along its channel; but except where this water spread there was no appearance of decay in the ice.
May.
During the first part of this month the wind blew from the North-West and the sky was cloudy.

It generally thawed during the day but froze at night.

On the 2nd the Aurora Borealis faintly gleamed through very dense clouds.
We had a long conversation with Mr.Dease of the North-West Company who had recently arrived from his station at the bottom of the Athabasca Lake.

This gentleman, having passed several winters on the Mackenzie's River and at the posts to the northward of Slave Lake, possessed considerable information respecting the Indians and those parts of the country to which our inquiries were directed, which he very promptly and kindly communicated.