108 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



conveying glass into the interior has pre- 

 cluded its use in the windows, where its 

 place is poorly supplied by parchment, im- 

 perfectly made by the native women from 

 the skin of the rein-deer. Should this post, 

 however, continue to be the residence of 

 Governor Williams, it will be much im- 

 proved in a few years, as he is devoting his 

 attention to that point. The land around 

 Cumberland House is low, but the soil, from 

 having a considerable intermixture of lime- 

 stone, is good, and capable of producing 

 abundance of corn, and vegetables of every 

 description. Many kinds of pot-herbs have 

 already been brought to some perfection, 

 and the potatoes bid fair to equal those of 

 England. The spontaneous productions of 

 nature would afford ample nourishment for 

 all the European animals. Horses feed ex- 

 tremely well even during the winter, and so 

 would oxen if provided with hay, which 

 might be easily done.* Pigs also improve, 



* " The wild buffalo scrapes away the snow with 

 its feet to get at the herbage beneath, and the horse, 



