65 



CHAP. XXVI. 



MANITOBAH HOUSE — MANITOBAH ISLAND OAK POINT — 



OAK POINT TO THE SETTLEMENTS ON EED KIVER. 



Mr. and Mrs. Mackenzie. — Manitobah House. — Messenger. — Missionary Pri- 

 vations. — Want of Supplies. — Snow Storm. — Indian Summer. — Snow 

 Birds. — Manitobah House. — Rock. — John Campbell. — Whitefish. — Im- 

 portance of. — Aspect of Country. — The Narrows. — Manitobah Island. — 

 Dimensions of. — Oak. — Rock Formation. — Fossils. — Indian Superstitions. 

 Fairies. — Signals. — Arrival of Boat at Manitobah Island. — Coast of Lake 

 Manitobah. — Old Mission Station. — Unfitness of this part of the Coast of 

 the Lake for Settlement. — Indian Liberality. — Monkman's Point. — Cause 

 of the Formation of Marshes. — H. B. Co. Breeding Establishment. — Oak 

 Point. — Dimensions of Lake Manitobah. — Prairie bordering the Lake. — 

 Shoal Lake. — Character of the Country. — Big Ridge. — Little Ridge. — 

 Arrive at the Settlements, 



I remained one week at Manitobah House, waiting for 

 Mr. Fleming, who was detained by contrary winds. To 

 Mr. and Mrs. Mackenzie I am indebted for much gene- 

 rous hospitality, and have great pleasure in possessing this 

 opportunity of acknowledging their kindness and the 

 endeavour they made to give me all the assistance and 

 information in their power. Manitobah House is in a 

 very dilapidated condition, but Mr. Mackenzie has erected 

 another dwelling, which was nearly completed during my 

 stay. A Eoman Catholic Mission formerly existed here, 

 but having been abandoned, the buildings were 1 sold to 

 the Hudson's Bay Company, and in the year following the 

 transfer, they were accidentally destroyed by fire. 



On Saturday, the 16th October, a messenger arrived 

 from Fairford, on his way to Oak Point, whither he was 



VOL. II. F 



