ARRIVAL AT FORT WILLIAM. 3J 



tongues, sweet corn, and many other dainties ; 

 which, though most welcome on their own ac- 

 count, were, in my estimation, still more valuable 

 for the feeling which had prompted the present. 



Nothing beyond the ordinary causes of de- 

 tention occurred while crossing the northern 

 extremity of Lake Superior. At a post called 

 the Pic, we were liberally supplied with fresh 

 butter and fish by my old friend Mr. M 'Murray, 

 who would willingly have had us remain the 

 night with him. The inviting appearance of 

 the weather induced us to decline his hospitality ; 

 and it was not a little mortifying, therefore, to 

 find ourselves soon enveloped in a dense fog, 

 which baffled the skill of the guide, and com- 

 pelled us to land. 



On the 20th of May we arrived at Fort William, 

 much to the astonishment of Mr. D. M'Intosh, 

 the gentleman in charge, who assured us that the 

 light canoes of the preceding season had been 

 fully twelve days later. It was here that the 

 large canoes were to be exchanged for smaller, 

 better calculated to overcome the numerous 

 impediments which obstruct the navigation of 

 the inland rivers ; and I had every reason to be 

 satisfied with the two beautiful ones which had 

 been constructed for the purpose, by the direction 

 of Governor Simpson, and under the superin- 

 tendence of Mr. M'Intosh. 



d 3 



