CHAPTER XIX. 



THROUGH THE FOREST AND HOME AGAIN. 



UPON arriving at York we were kindly received by 

 the officer of the Hudson's Bay Company, Dr. Milne. 

 Our men were given lodgings and rations in one of the 

 many vacant houses in the Fort, while my brother and 

 I were shown into the Doctor's bachelor quarters and 

 allowed to occupy the room of Mr. Mowat, the assistant 

 trader, who was absent at the time. 



The first articles essential to comfort were tubs and 

 warm water. With travellers in the north, particularly 

 during the winter season, the practice of performing 

 daily ablutions is quite unheard of. This is not due to 

 neglect, but is rather an enforced custom due to the 

 painful effects produced by the application of ice-cold 

 water to the skin. During the previous summer and 

 autumn my brother and I adhered to the habit of daily 

 washing our hands and face, until our skin became so- 

 cracked and sore that we were forced to discontinue. 



Besides Dr. Milne and an old-time servant, Macpher- 

 son, Mr. Mowat, now temporarily absent, was the only 

 other white resident in York. He had, only a few 

 days before our arrival, been sent off with two Indians 

 as a relief party to look for the Company's autumn mail, 

 which was now more than six weeks overdue. The 



