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 N.W., and the sky was cloudy.

It generally thawed during the day, but froze at night.

On the 2nd the Aurora 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.

During our conversation, an old Chipewyan Indian, named the Rabbit's Head, entered the room, to whom Mr.Dease referred for information on some point.