90 Thirty Years 



the party, but being then a mere boy, he had forgot- 

 ten many of the circumstances. He confirms, how- 

 ever, the leading incidents related by Hearne, and was 

 positive he reached the sea, though he admitted that 

 none of the party had tasted the water. He repre- 

 sented himself to be the only survivor of that party. 

 As he was esteemed a good Indian, I presented him 

 with a medal, which he received gratefully, and con- 

 cluded a long speech upon the occasion, by assuring 

 me he should preserve it carefully all his life. 



On the 10th of May we were gratified by the ap- 

 pearance of spring, though the ice remained firm on 

 the lake. The anemone (pulsatilla, pasque flower,) 

 appeared this day in flower, the trees began to put 

 forth their leaves, and the musquitoes visited the warm 

 rooms. On the 17th and 18th there were frequent 

 showers of rain, and much thunder and lightning. 

 This moist weather caused the ice to waste so rapidly, 

 that by the 24th it had entirely disappeared from the 

 lake. The gentlemen belonging to both the Compa- 

 nies quickly arrived from the different posts in this 

 department, bringing their winter's collection of furs, 

 which are forwarded from these establishments to the 

 depdts. 



July 2. — The canoe, which was ordered to be built 

 for our use, was finished. As it was constructed after 

 the manner, which has been accurately described by 



