466 DEPART FOR MONTREAL. 



whose treatment, I may add, he speedily reco- 

 vered. The morning of the 28th of May, how- 

 ever, was so tine, and the channel so free from 

 obstruction, that I immediately prepared for my 

 departure, having arranged that Hassel should 

 follow in one of the Company's boats, and take 

 the place of the person who was appointed to 

 accompany me. Accordingly, provided with 

 every thing that was necessary for the journey, 

 I took leave of my kind friend Mr. Smith, of 

 whom it is but justice to say that he had ne- 

 glected nothing which might contribute in any 

 degree to my comfort while under his hospitable 



roof. 



After several detentions, principally from gales 

 of wind, I got to Norway House, in Jack River, 

 on the 24th of June, and found many persons 

 there suffering from influenza. Mr. Simpson had 

 been obliged to go to Canada ; but had directed 

 every thing necessary to be in readiness, that my 

 progress might not be delayed. Having, there- 

 fore, examined the accounts and charges for the 

 o-oods received by the expedition from the Com- 

 pany, and left some brief directions for Mr. King, 

 I set out very shortly for Montreal, with a crew 

 of Iroquois and Canadians substituted for my 

 own men, who, at their own request, were now 

 discharged from the service. I next crossed 

 Lake Winnipeg, and arrived at Fort Alexander, 



