settled bush country into the Muskoka district, and north as 

 far as the Magnetewan River. 



The idea was to explore the country as far as Lake Nip- 

 pissing, but warm weather coming on the travelling got so 

 bad that they had to return to Rousseau. But they got a very 

 clear idea of the character of this portion of Northern On- 

 tario, and although they saw some fair land, they were not ai 

 together satisfied with it as a future home for those of their 

 nationality, who might emigrate to this country. 



In the summer of the same year (1874) word came across 

 to the effect that a large party of immigrants was expected 

 from Iceland, in the course of the season, and that there was 

 a likelihood that they would go to Nova Scotia. The Ice- 

 landers at Rousseau discussed the matter thoroughly, and 

 from the knowledge they had gained about Canada at large, 

 they came to the conclusion that they would rather advise this 

 expected party to come to Ontario than go to the Maritime 

 provinces. 



The result of this was that the Agent of the Ontario Gov- 

 ernment at Rousseau induced the Government to send the 

 writer to meet the steamer which was expected to carry the 

 party across and land it at Halifax. Consequently the writer 

 did go to Halifax and waited there some weeks, until he got 

 word from Quebec that the steamer — the old St. Patrick, of 

 the Allan Line — was bringing the party direct from Iceland 

 to Quebec. The writer then went to Quebec and met the ship 

 there, she arriving on the 23rd day of September with 365 

 Icelandic souls on board. A few of the immigrants were de- 

 termined to go to Nova Scotia and were consequently sent 

 there, but most of the party came on to Toronto. 



Many of these immigrants were poor and required em- 

 ployment to support themselves and families. It was there- 

 fore decided to send the whole party — except some single men 

 and women who could get employment elsewhere — to a village 

 called Kinmount, some 50 miles back from the town of Lind- 

 say, a new railway — the Victoria Railway — being under con- 

 struction between these two points. 



The writer went to Kinmount in advance with an Agent 

 of the Ontario Government, to make certain arrangements for 



