observations we obtained place Norway House in latitude 53°41' 38"N
and longitude 98° 1' 24" W .; the variation of the magnetic needle
14" 12' 41" E., and its dip 83° 40' 10". Though our route from York
Factory has rather inclined to the S. W., the dip, it will be perceived,
has gradually increased. The difference produced by reversing the
face of the instrument was 7° 39'. There was too much wind to
admit of our observing, with any degree of accuracy, the quantity of
the magnetic force.
We left Norway House soon after noon, and the wind being favourable,
sailed along the northern shore of Lake Winipeg the whole
of. the ensuing night; and on the morning of the 8th landed on a
narrow ridge of sand, which, running out twenty miles to the westward,
separates Limestone Bay from the body of the Lake. When
the wind blows hard from the southward, it is customary to carry
boats across this isthmus, and to pull up under its lee. From Norwegian
Point to Limestone Bay the shore consists of high clay cliffs,
against which the waves beat with violence during strong southerly
winds. When the wind blows from the land, and the waters of the
lake are low, a narrow sandy beach is uncovered, and affords a landing-
place for boats. The shores of Limestone Bay are covered with small
fragments of calcareous stones. During the night the Aurora Borealis
was quick in its motions, and various and vivid in its colours.
After breakfasting we re-embarked, and continued our voyage until
three P.M., when a strong westerly wind arising, we were obliged to
shelter ourselves on a small island, which lies near the extremity of
the above-mentioned peninsula. This is formed of a collection of
small rolled pieces of limestone, and was remembered by some of our
boatmen to have been formerly covered with water. For the last ten
or twelve years the waters of the lake have been low, but our information
did not enable us to judge whether the decrease was merely
casual, or going on continually, or periodical. The distance of this
island from Norway House is thirty-eight miles and a half.
The westerly winds detained us all the morning of the 9th, but,
at two P.M., the wind chopped round to the eastward; we immediately
embarked, and the breeze afterwards freshening, we reached
the mouth of the Saskatchawan at midnight, having run thirty-two
miles.
Sunday, October 10-,.—The whole of this day was occupied in
getting the boats from the mouth of the river to the foot of the
grand rapid, a distance of two miles. There are several rapids in
this short distance, during which the river varies its breadth from
five hundred yards to half a mile. Its channel is stony. At the
grand rapid, the Saskatchawan forms a sudden bend, from south to
east, and works its way through a narrow channel, deeply worn into
the limestone strata. The stream, rushing with impetuous force
over a rocky and uneven bottom, presents a sheet of foam, and seems
to bear with impatience the straitened confinement of its lofty banks.
A flock of pelicans, and two or three brown fishing eagles, were
fishing in its agitated waters, seemingly with great success. There
is a good sturgeon fishery at the foot of the rapid. Several golden
plovers, Canadian gros-beaks, cross-bills, wood-peckers, and pin-tailed
grouse, were shot to-day; and Mr. Back killed a small striped
marmot. This beautiful little animal was busily employed in carrying
in its distended pouches the seeds of the American vetch to its
winter hoards.
The portage is eighteen hundred yards long, and its western
extremity was found to be in 53° 08' 25" North latitude, and 99° 28'
02" West longitude. The route from Canada to the Athabasca joins
that from York Factory at the mouth of the Saskatchawan, and we
saw traces of a recent encampment of the Canadian voyagers. Our
companions in the Hudson’s Bay boats, dreading an attack from
their rivals in trade, were on the alert at this place. They examined
minutely the spot of encampment, to form a judgment of the number
of canoes that had preceded them; and they advanced, armed, and