100 OBSERVATIONS ON A SALMON RIVER 



men, was deputed to spy the land. With 

 him we sent Reid, head carpenter at Govern- 

 ment House, a delightful Scotchman, with 

 infinite skill in all matters concerning his 

 trade, and possessing all the shrewdness and 

 resourcefulness of his race. The reports re- 

 ceived by letter from our mission were en- 

 couraging, and H. A. was given carte 

 blanche to select a site on which Reid was 

 to construct the new house. There were 

 only a few weeks to spare, but Reid under- 

 took to have some kind of shelter ready for 

 us in time for the opening of the season. 

 The house was to be of the simplest kind, 

 built entirely of wood, of which an abundant 

 supply could be obtained locally, and we 

 were unhampered by by-laws as to the de- 

 sign of the structure. 



The long-awaited day came at last, and 

 on the 12th of June I started with H. A. 

 from Quebec, travelling by the Inter- 

 Colonial Railway to Dalhousie, and passing 

 on our way the Metapedia, where George 

 Stephen (now Lord Mount Stephen) had 



