124 Our North Land. 



couraged. The previous year had been one of delays approaching 

 almost to disaster. The Ocean Nymph had not reached this post 

 until very late, owing to the exceptionally large quantity of ice met 

 with in the Strait, and was unable to make the return voyage, and 

 was laid up all winter in Churchill harbour. She had but three 

 months' provisions, and with a crew of fourteen men, Chief Trader 

 Spencer found himself without sufficient supplies, necessitating long 

 tedious trips overland to Y 0I "k to procure them, in order to provide 

 for his unfortunate guests. 



As I have said, this rendered the winter unusually hard, and put 

 things out of joint generally, so far as communication with the home 

 office was concerned. The inhabitants of Churchill had not been 

 informed as to the steps taken for their accommodation the present 

 year. Of course they knew that a ship would have to be sent out, 

 but the sixth of September had been reached, and that ship had not 

 yet arrived. , The prospect was, indeed, gloomy enough. If by any 

 mishap the outcoming vessel should not be able to get through, the 

 winter must, per force of circumstances, bring them many hardships, 

 and impose upon them many privations. No wonder, therefore, 

 that they had started up in surprise and expectancy at noticing the 

 smoke of our steamer. They were not long, however, in deciding 

 who and what we were. Already the overland mails from Winni- 

 peg had informed Mr. Spencer of the agitation going on in Manitoba, 

 concerning the proposed Hudson's Bay route, of the projected enter- 

 prise of constructing a railway from Winnipeg to Churchill, and 

 lastly, of the fact, that during the month of September, he might 

 expect the honour of a visit from the first Canadian Government 

 Expedition to enquire into the navigation of the northern waters of 

 the Dominion. 



They must, therefore, have been greatly disappointed, but they 

 were not the less cordial in bidding us welcome on that account. 

 Jumping into one of their two-masted whale-boats — a small craft 

 kept for handy use — they came alongside, borne by the current and 

 wind with great speed, while the Neptune's anchor chain was yet 

 clanking at the bows. In a few minutes Messrs. Spencer and 

 MacTavish, with four half-breed servants, were on deck, and the 



