produced by reversing the face of the instrument was 11° 3 40 . A
succession of fresh breezes prevented our ascertaining the intensity
of the magnetic force. The position of York Factory, by our observations,
is in latitude 57° 00' 03" N., longitude 92° 26' W. The
variation of the compass 6° 00' 21" E. CHAPTER II.
Passage up Hayes’, Steel, and Hill Rivers—Cross Swampy Lake—Jack River—Knee Lake
and Magnetic Islet—Trout River—Holy Lake—Weepinapannis River—Windy Lake—
White-Fall Lake and River—Echem^mis and Lea Rivers—Play-Green Lakes—Lake Wi-
nipeg—River Saskatchawan—Cross, Cedar, and Pine-Island Lakes—Cumberland House.
September. O n the 9th of September, our boat being completed,
arrangements were made for our departure as soon as the tide
should serve. But, when the stores were brought down to the beach,
it was found that the boat would not contain them all. The wholej
therefore, of the bacon, and part of the flour, rice, tobacco, and ammunition,
were returned into the store. The bacon was too bulky
an article to be forwarded under any circumstances; but the Governor
undertook to forward the rest next season. In making the
selection of articles to carry with us, I was guided by the judgment
of Governor Williams, who assured me that tobacco, ammunition,
and spirits, could be procured in the interior, otherwise I should
have been very unwilling to have left these essential articles behind.
We embarked at noon, and were honoured with a salute of eight
guns and three cheers from the Governor and all the inmates of the
fort, who had assembled to witness our departure. We gratefully
returned their, cheers, and then made sail, much delighted at having
now commenced our voyage into the interior of America. The wind
and tide failing us at the distance of six miles above the Factory, and
the current being too rapid for using oars to advantage, the crew had
to commence tracking, or dragging the boat by a line, to which they
were harnessed. This operation is extremely laborious in these
rivers. Our men were obliged to walk along the steep declivity of a
E 2