ACEOSS THE SUB-AKCTICS OF CANADA 



could read from the Bible. The girls were taught by Mrs. 

 Lofthouse to do various kinds of needlework, and by way of 

 encouragement were supplied with materials. 



At the trading station, besides Mr. Matheson, Captain 

 Hawes and his family were staying at the time, he in an 

 unofficial capacity. He was shortly to succeed Mr. Matheson, 

 who was to be removed to some other post. Although not so 

 well acquainted with the Captain as with Mr. and Mrs. 

 Lofthouse, his face was also a familiar one to me, as we had 

 met at Churchill in former years, when he was master of the 

 Hudson's Bay Company's ship. Cam Owen, since wrecked 

 on the coast. 



During the stay at Churchill every day brought noticeable 

 improvement in the condition of our party. On several occa- 

 sions, the weather being favorable, snowshoeing expeditions 

 were formed. These were much enjoyed, though usually 

 accompanied by great fatigue. Knowing, however, that by 

 means of such travel we must return home in a short time, 

 we realized the necessity of gaining strength for the long 

 journey. 



In the course of one of our outings we reached a place 

 called Sloops Cove, about half way to Prince of Wales Fort, 

 and there made some interesting observations. This cove 

 owes its name to the fact that in the year 1741 the two sloops, 

 Furnace and Discovery, sent out from England in command 

 of Captain Middleton to search for the long-looked-for 

 iN'orth-West Passage, spent the winter there. How two 

 vessels could have been forced into this cove is a question 

 which has given rise to much speculation on the part of Cana- 

 dian scientists, for the cove does not now contain more than 

 sufficient depth of water, at high tide, to float a small boat, 

 and it is doubtful if even such a boat could get in through 

 the rocky entrance. The historical fact remains, however, 

 that this cove was the winter quarters of these two sloops, 

 and as proof of the fact a number of ring-bolts to which the 



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