OF THE POLAR SEA. 



43 



circumstance that renders the sunken rocks, so frequent in these 

 waters, very dangerous to boats in a fresh breeze. Owing to this, one 

 of the boats that accompanied us, sailing at the rate of seven miles 

 an hour, struck upon one of these rocks. Its mast was carried away 

 by the shock, but fortunately no other damage sustained. The In- 

 dians ascribe the muddiness of these lakes to an adventure of one 

 of their deities, a mischievous fellow, a sort of Kobin Puck, whom 

 they hold in very little esteem. This deity, who is named Weesak- 

 ootchaht, possesses considerable power, but makes a capricious use 

 of it, and delights in tormenting the poor Indians. He is not, 

 however, invincible, and was foiled in one of his attempts by the 

 artifice of an old woman, who succeeded in taking him captive. She 

 called in all the women of the tribe to aid in his punishment, and he 

 escaped from their hands in a condition so filthy that it required all the 

 waters of the Great Lake to wash him clean ; and ever sin ce that period 

 it has been entitled to the appellation of Winipeg, or Muddy Water. 

 Norway Point forms the extremity of a narrow peninsula which 

 separates Play Green and Winipeg Lakes. Buildings were first 

 erected here by a party of Norwegians, who were driven away from the 

 colony at Red River by the commotions which took place some time 

 ago. It is now a trading post belonging to the Hudson's Bay Com- 

 pany. On landing at Norway House we met with Lord Selkirk's 

 colonists, who had started from York Factory the day before us.- 

 These poor people were exceedingly pleased at meeting with us again 

 in this wild country ; having accompanied them across the Atlantic, 

 they viewed us in the light of old acquaintances. This post was under 

 the charge of Mr. James Sutherland, to whom I am indebted for re- 

 placing a minute-hand on the chronometer, which was broken at the 

 White Fall, and I had afterwards the satisfaction of finding that it 



went with extraordinary regularity. 



The morning of the 7 th October was beautifully clear, and the ob- 

 servations we obtained place Norway House in latitude 53° 41' 38" N., 



O 2 



