Dubawnt (properly To' bon') is a Chipewyan word meaning "water-along-the-shore." It is so called because the main body of the lake is at all seasons of the year covered with ice, though for a few days, or possibly weeks, in summer this ice is loosened from the shore, and there is a lane of water between the ice and the land.
[43] The position of the place where he broke his quadrant on the 12th of August is difficult to determine either from the text or from his map. A point in latitude 63° 10' north and longitude 10° 40' west from Churchill, which is the position given in the text, is shown on his map almost in the centre of Dubawnt Lake, and the map shows that after crossing the outlet of the lake his course was at a considerable distance to the north-west and west from it. It is probable therefore that his quadrant was broken on the great plain which lies to the west of the lake, and north-west of the Dubawnt River above the lake.
Transactions from the Time the Quadrant was broken, till I arrived at the Factory
_Several strange Indians join us from the Northward--They plundered me of all I had; but did not plunder the Southern Indians--My guide plundered--We begin our return to the Factory--Meet with other Indians, who join our company--Collect deer-skins for clothing, but could not get them dressed--Suffer much hardship from the want of tents and warm clothing--Most of the Indians leave us--Meet with Matonabbee--Some account of him, and his behaviour to me and the Southern Indians--We remain in his company some time--His observations on my two unsuccessful attempts--We leave him, and proceed to a place to which he directed us, in order to make snow-shoes and sledges--Join Matonabbee again, and proceed towards the Factory in his company--Ammunition runs short--Myself and four Indians set off post for the Factory--Much bewildered in a snow storm; my dog is frozen to death; we lie in a bush of willows--Proceed on our journey--Great difficulty in crossing a jumble of rocks--Arrive at the Fort._
The day after I had the misfortune to break the quadrant, several Indians joined me from the Northward, some of whom plundered me and my companions of almost every useful article we had, among which was my gun; and notwithstanding we were then on the point of returning to the Factory, yet, as one of my companions' guns was a little out of order, the loss was likely to be { 48} severely felt; but it not being in my power to recover it again, we were obliged to rest contented.