12 



the harbor, close to the present site of the village of Gimli, on 

 the afternoon of the same day, at 4.30 o'clock. 



Although it froze up a few days after these plucky pion- 

 eers landed at Willow Bar, they managed to build themselves 

 log shanties and pull through a long and extremely severe 

 winter. 



Thus was the first and largest Icelandic settlement in the 

 Canadian Northwest founded — a settlement which, in spite of 

 several misfortunes in its early days, now contains some 2,500 

 prosperous people. 



SIGTR. JONASSON. 



Dr. Bryce, in moving a vote of thanks, proposed that the 

 paper be printed as one of the Society's transactions ; he also 

 suggested an addition to the paper giving certain statistics as 

 to the number and geographical localities of such settlements 

 in Manitoba, until the fuller paper giving details of the settle- 

 ments in Manitoba which had been promised by Capt. Jon- 

 assen was read. 



Mr. W. J. McLean, seconded the resolution, and express- 

 ed himself warmly as to the worthiness of the Icelandic com- 

 munities in one or two settlements which he had visited. Mr. 

 McDonald followed in a humorous speech and thanked the 

 author for his paper, which he had suggested to him some 

 time ago. 



Mr. Chas. Mair and Mr. T. H. Johnson also spoke brief- 

 ly and in commendation of the paper and in high apprecia- 

 tion of the Icelanders as settlers. This closed the public meet- 

 ing. 



