ISLINGTON MISSION. 



Ill 



during a period of five years ; Indian corn ripens well, 

 and may become a valuable crop on the Lower Win- 

 nipeg. Spring opens and vegetation commences at Is- 

 lington about the 10th of May, and winter sets in 

 generally about the 1st of November. These facts are 

 noticed in connection with the small cultivable tract at 

 the Mission, on account of the occurrence of other avail- 

 able areas, varying from fifty to three hundred acres in 

 extent, between the Mission and Silver Falls, about 

 eighteen miles from the mouth of the river. From Silver 

 Falls to where the river flows into Lake Winnipeg, poor 

 and rocky land is the exception, alluvial and fertile 

 tracts, bearing groves of heavy aspens and other trees, 

 prevailing. 



The cultivable areas on the river banks may yet acquire 

 importance, for they may be regarded in the light of pro- 

 ductive islands in a sterile waste of rock and marsh. 



The Eev. Eobert Macdonald, the missionary in charge 

 at Islington, informed me that the Mission was formerly 

 held by the Eoman Catholics for a period of several years, 

 but was abandoned on account of the opposition of the 

 Indians, who drove them away in consequence of the 

 death of a young girl in the nunnery at Bed Biver settle- 

 ment. The heathen Indians persuaded the converts that 

 all who embraced Christianity would soon die. The 

 Mission was left vacant for a period of six years, after 

 which Mr. Philip Kennedy was appointed catechist in 

 1850, a post which he held until the 20th October 1853, 

 when the Eev. Eobert Macdonald was enabled to revive 

 the Mission by the generous and Christian liberality of an 

 English lady. 



This Mission is at present sustained by a munificent gift 

 from Mrs. Landon of Bath of 1,000/. sterling for its 

 establishment, and 100/. a year for its maintenance. Its 



