ARRIVAL AT CUMBERLAND HOUSE. 65 



and such was the accumulation of mud, that it 

 was necessary to wade a full mile before we 

 could land at Cumberland House. Owing to 

 the same cause, a creek leading from the Saska- 

 shawan had been rendered impassable ; and dry 

 land extended so far from the house into the 

 lake, that the fishery, as I afterwards found, was 

 diminished almost to nothing. During the whole 

 of my stay there, though no pains were spared, 

 not a solitary fish was taken. I was received 

 by Mr. Isbester, a clerk of the Company, my 

 companion, Mr. King, who had arrived with- 

 out accident, and another person, who had been 

 accommodated with a passage in the boat. 



The boats, stores, and pemmican were in good 

 order and quite ready ; and, having made some 

 arrangements with Mr. Isbester for our mutual 

 convenience, and a few changes as regarded the 

 different crews, I had the satisfaction of getting 

 my two bateaux away, under the orders of 

 Mr. King, on the 6th of July. Each was laden 

 with a cargo of 61 pieces of 90 lbs. each, making, 

 for both, 10,980 lbs., exclusive of men, bedding, 

 clothes, masts, sails, oars, and other spars. Yet, 

 with such steersmen as M'Kay and Sinclair, I 

 had not the slightest apprehension for their 

 safety, and looked with confidence to their ar- 

 riving at winter quarters before the setting in of 

 the ice. 



