which continued all day unless when the sun chanced to be unusually
bright, and the geese and ducks were observed to take a
southerly course in large flocks. On the morning of the 20th we
came to a party of Indians, encamped behind the bank of the riyer
on the borders of a small marshy lake, for the purpose of killing
water-fowl. Here we were gratified with the view of a very large
tent. Its length was about forty feet, its breadth eighteen, and its
covering was moose deer leather, with apertures for the escape of the
smoke from the fires which are placed at each end; a ledge of wood
was placed on the ground on both sides the whole length of the
tent, within which were the sleeping-places, arranged probably
according to families; and the drums and other instruments of enchantment
were piled up in the centre. Amongst the Indians there
were a great many half-breeds, who led an Indian life. Governor
Williams gave a dram and a piece of tobacco to each of the males of
theO pna rthtye. morning of the. 21st a heavy fall of snow took place, which
lasted until two in the afternoon. In the evening we left the Saskatchewan,
and entered the Little Eiver, one of the two streams by
which Pine Island Lake discharges its waters. We advanced to-day
fourteen miles and a quarter. On the 22d the weather was extremely
cold and stormy, and we had to contend against a strong
head wind. The spray froze as it fell, and the oars were so loaded
with ice as to be almost unmanageable. The length of our voyage
this day was eleven miles.
The following morning was very cold: we embarked at day-light,
and pulled across a part of Pine Island Lake, about three miles and
a half to Cumberland House. The margin of the lake was so in-
crusted with ice, that we had to break through a considerable space
of it to approach the landing-place. When we considered that this
was the effect of only a few days’ frost at the commencement of
winter, we were convinced of the impracticability of advancing
further by water this season, and therefore resolved on accepting
Governor Williams’s kind invitation to remain with him at this post.
We immediately visited Mr. Connolly, the resident partner of the
North-West Company, and presented to him Mr. Mac Gillivray’s
circular letter. He assured us that he should be most desirous to forward
our progress by every means in his power, and we subsequently
had ample proofs of his sincerity and kindness. The unexpected
addition of our party to the winter residents at this post, rendered
an increase of apartments necessary; and our men were immediately
appointed to complete and arrange an unfinished building as
speedily as possible.
November 8.—Some mild weather succeeded to the severe frosts
we had at our arrival; and the lake had not been entirely frozen
before the 6th; but this morning the ice was sufficiently firm to
admit of sledges crossing it. The dogs were harnessed at a very
early hour, and the winter operations commenced by sending for a
supply of fish from Swampy Eiver, where men had been stationed
to collect it, just before the frost set in. Both men and dogs appeared
to enjoy the change; they started in full glee, and drove
rapidly along. An Indian, who had come to the house on the preceding
evening to request some provision for his family, whom he
represented to be in a state of starvation, accompanied them. His
party had been suffering greatly under the epidemic diseases of
hooping-cough and measles; and the hunters were still in too debilitated
a state to go out and provide them with meat. A supply
was given to him, and the men were directed to bring his father, an
old and faithful hunter, to the house, that he might have the comforts
of nourishment and warmth. He was brought accordingly, but
these attentions were unavailing as he died a few days afterwards.
Two days before his death I was surprised to observe him sitting for
nearly three hours, in a piercingly sharp day, in the saw-pit,
employed gathering the dust, &nd throwing it by handsful over his
H