148 Our North Land. 



greeted with one of the most beautiful mornings that ever delighted 

 the human heart. 



I went forth to view the beauties of York Factory, and found 

 much to admire. The general appearance of the village is pleasant 

 to look at. As a Hudson's Bay post it is by no means what it has 

 been, and yet nothing has fallen into decay. The buildings, of 

 which there are about fifty belonging to the post proper, many of 

 them large and handsome, are clean and bright -looking, and must 

 have been erected at great expense. The main factory building is 

 a square, with a court-yard in the centre, being over two hundred 

 feet on each side. The front centre is three storeys high, the other, 

 portion two storeys. It is of wood, as are all the buildings belonging 

 to the place. It stands back about three hundred feet from the front 

 palisade, which runs along parallel with the Hayes river, upon 

 which it fronts. On the right, as you enter through either of the 

 two gates, is a row of buildings extending from the palisade back 

 to the factory, or to the end of the long summer house on a line 

 with the front of the factory. These are the department store- 

 rooms, net houses, stores, shops, etc. The summer house was used to 

 accommodate the officers from inland posts when visiting the factory. 



On the left is a corresponding row of buildings, of the same style, 

 two storeys high. These are the " old trading rooms," the provision 

 house, etc. As I have said, the great factory is in the form of a 

 square, extending back about two hundred feet. There are rows of 

 buildings parallel with the sides of this square, extending all the 

 way round. These are the chief factor's residence, the chief ac- 

 countant's residence, residence of the clergyman, the doctor's house, 

 the church, the school-house, the hospital, the servants' houses, the 

 middle-men's houses, the photographic rooms, the general offices 

 the library, the cooper-shop, the blacksmith shop, the bake-house, 

 and many other buildings. The high palisade extends completely 

 round the whole, but there are a few buildings outside of it, notably 

 the Indian church, which is capable of accommodating over three 

 hundred, and is an imposing structure with a high tower 

 surmounted by a large cross. 



In front of the factory building are the gardens, divided by the 



