$4 JOURNEY T6 THE SHORES 
festivities which are annually given at Cumber- 
land House on this day. All the men who had 
been despatched to different parts in search of 
provision or furs returned to the fort on the 
occasion, and were regaled with a substantial 
dinner and a dance in the evening. , 
_ _ The new year was ushered in by repeated 
Jan. 1. discharges of musketry; a ceremony which 
has been observed by the men of both the trading 
Companies for many years. Our party dined 
with Mr. Connolly, and were treated with a 
beaver, which we found extremely delicate. In 
the evening his men were entertained with a 
dance, in which the Canadians exhibited some 
grace and much agility ; and they contrived to 
infuse some. portion of their activity and spirits 
into the steps of their female companions. _ The 
halfbreed women are passionately fond of this 
amusement, but a stranger would imagine the 
contrary on witnessing their apparent want of 
animation. On such occasions they affect a so- 
briety of demeanour which I understand to be 
the very opposite to their general character. 
January 10.—This day I wrote to Governor 
Williams and Mr. Connolly, requesting them to 
Prepare two canoes, with crews and appoint 
ments, for the conveyance of Dr. Richardsot — 
and Mr. Hood, with our stores to Chipewyan as — 
