364 Our North Land. 



succession, each for a short time, but as they proved to be worse 

 than useless, they were obliged to depend entirely upon themselves, 

 both in going and returning ; and, having taken unceasing care to 

 provide against every contingency, they met with no mishap what- 

 ever during the whole of the round trip. 



Starting from Moose Factory on the 7th of July, they worked 

 northward till the 24th of August, when they turned to come south 

 again. They reached the south-eastern extremity of Portland 

 Promontory, the most conspicuous point or headland on the east 

 coast of Hudson's Bay, and which Dr. Bell named Cape Dufferin, in 

 honour of the then Governor-General of the Dominion. This cape 

 is situated at about six hundred miles from Moose Factory, or nearly 

 two-thirds of the distance from that place to Hudson Strait. While 

 going northward, as they followed the coast closely the whole way 

 from Rupert's House, their track was probably upwards of eight 

 hundred miles in length. 



Cape Jones, in about latitude 55° north, is directly opposite Cape 

 Henrietta Maria, and is the point at which one passes from James's 

 Bay into Hudson's Bay proper. From that point northward the 

 country becomes more interesting, and for a distance of three 

 hundred miles to Cape Dufferin, as far as the coast has been explored, 

 there are many curious and interesting features. Dr. Bell says that 

 in this journey the distances were ascertained by Walker's patent 

 ship log, the rate of speed of the boat, estimations of short distances 

 by the eye, rough triangulation, and by observations for lati- 

 tude, while the bearings were taken by compass, the variation of 

 which was determined by numerous observations of the pole-star. 



The soil and general characteristics of the country between Lake 

 Superior and James's Bay are more interesting than one would 

 suppose. That section is generally thought to be entirely barren. 

 It is true that from Michipicoten to Missinaibi Lake the country is 

 more or less rocky, yet even in this section the proportion of rock 

 surface to the whole area is not large. However, after passing the 

 " swampy grounds " north of Lake Missinaibi, the traveller cannot 

 fail to be struck by the abundance and general fertility of the 

 soil on every hand. These characteristics extend to Moose Factory. 



