66 ASSINNIBOINE AND SASKATCHEWAN EXPEDITION. 



journeying for the supplies of the Mission in charge of 

 the Eev. Mr. Stagg. 



This excellent Missionary has suffered much incon- 

 venience from being disappointed in obtaining supplies of 

 clothing and other indispensable articles for the children 

 and adults, now Christian members of his Mission, and 

 the messenger who arrived at Manitobah House was 

 despatched at his expense to bring the necessaries which 

 had been brought from York Factory to Red River, but 

 not forwarded to the Mission at the usual time by the 

 Hudson's Bay Company's brigade. 



In the afternoon of this day a snow storm commenced 

 which continued all night, and covered the ground with 

 nine inches of snow. The thermometer was at the 

 freezing point, but Mr. Mackenzie stated his conviction 

 that the " Indian Summer " not having yet occurred, the 

 snow would soon disappear and we might have fine 

 weather for ten days or a fortnight ; a prediction borne 

 out by the rapid disappearance of the snow on the follow- 

 ing day, and the occurrence of beautiful weather with 

 frosty nights to near the end of October. 



On Monday, the 18th, snow birds were flying about 

 the Post in large flocks ; ducks wending their way to the 

 south, and all appearances and signs of approaching winter 

 rapidly following one another. 



Tuesday and Wednesday were occupied in writing 

 letters and making up my journal. On Thursday, the 

 21st, the boat not having arrived, I proceeded to .examine 

 the surrounding country. The day was warm and fine, 

 with much smoke from the south-west, coming no doubt 

 from the burning prairies. 



Manitobah House is very prettily situated near the 

 Narrows of the lake. Immediately before it is a cluster 

 of low islands on which some fine ash-leaved maple and 



