ACKOSS THE SUB-AECTICS OF CANADA 



hard driven snow of the plains, but were what are known as 

 " flat sleds," or large toboggans, they being better suited to 

 woodland travel. 



The condition of our party on leaving York was vastly 

 different from what it had been on leaving Churchill. The 

 two hundred mile tramp, although crippling some of us and 

 causing all plenty of exertion, had hardened our muscles so 

 much that, with the ten days' " lie up " on the bank of the 

 Nelson Eiver, and a four days' rest at York, we were now 

 in first;class walking trim, and started up the Hays Eiver 

 at a brisk pace. 



The first day's march was upon the river ice, and our first 

 camp was made on the bank, in two feet of snow, beneath 

 the shelter of the evergreens. Beyond this our course led 

 through the woods to the north of the river, and by many 

 winding ways we journeyed on. 



On the morning of the third day the assisting team from 

 York, leaving its load with us, returned to the Factory. A 

 readjustment of loads was then made, and with the two 

 remaining teams we pushed on, though now more slowly, for 

 Oxford House. 



At about noon on the 1st of December we were pleased to 

 meet Mr. Mowat and party, returning with the long-looked- 

 for mail, all safe. The delay in the arrival of the mail 

 had- -been caused by one of the Indians becoming ill soon 

 after leaving Norway House, and having to return to that 

 post. After a brief halt, each party now having the advan- 

 tage of the other's track, we started on, pursuing opposite 

 ways, they to their lonely home on the ice-bound coast of 

 Hudson Bay, and we towards ours in the more congenial 

 south. 



At this time the temperature remained pretty steady at 

 about 25 degrees below zero, but with the exertion of the 

 march during the day, and the shelter of blankets and the 



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