150 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 
At eight in the morning of the 18th, we quitted 
the fort, and took leave of our hospitable friend, 
Governor Williams, whose kindness and atten- 
tion I shall ever remember with gratitude. Dr. 
Richardson, Mr. Hood, and Mr. Connolly, accom- 
panied us along the Saskatchawan until the snow 
became too deep for their walking without snow- 
shoes. We then parted from our associates, with 
sincere regret at the prospect of a long sepata- 
tion. Being accompanied by Mr. Mackenzie, of 
the Hudson’s Bay Company, who was going to 
Isle 4 la Crosse, with four sledges under his 
charge, we formed quite a procession, keeping in 
an Indian file, in the track of the man who pre" 
ceded the foremost dogs; but, as the snow was 
deep, we proceeded slowly on the surface of the 
river, which is about three hundred and fifty 
yards wide, for the distance of six miles, which 
we went to-day. Its alluvial banks and islands 
are clothed with willows. At the place of out 
encampment we could scarcely find sufficient pine 
branches to floor “ the hut,” as the Orkney men 
term the place where travellers rest. Its prepa 
ration, however, consists only in clearing away 
the snow to the ground, and covering that space 
with pine branches, over which the party spread. 
their blankets and coats, and sleep in warmth 
and comfort, by keeping a good fire at their feel 
