2 



ORKNEY ISLES. 



s tractions were, to reside at the Red River 

 Settlement, and under the encouragement and 

 aid of the Church Missionary Society, I was to 

 seek the instruction, and endeavour to melio- 

 rate the condition of the native Indians. 



The anchor was weighed early on the follow- 

 ing morning, and sailing with a fine breeze, the 

 sea soon opened to our view. The thought 

 that I was now leaving all that was dear to me 

 upon earth, to encounter the perils of the ocean, 

 and the wilderness, sensibly affected me at 

 times ; but my feelings were relieved in the 

 sanguine hope that I was borne on my way 

 under the guidance of a kind protecting Provi- 

 vidence, and that the circumstances of the 

 country whither I was bound, would soon 

 admit of my being surrounded with my family. 

 With these sentiments, I saw point after point 

 sink in the horizon, as we passed the shores 

 of England and Scotland for the Orkneys. 



We bore up for these Isles on the 10th of 

 June, after experiencing faint and variable winds 

 for several days : and a more dreary scene can 

 scarcely be imagined than they present to the 

 eye, in general. No tree or shrub is visible ; 

 and all is barren except a few spots of cultivated 

 ground in the vales, which form a striking con- 

 trast with the barren heath-covered hills that 



