48 



A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



miles. The near approach of winter was marked by severe frosts, 

 which continued all day unless when the sun chanced to be unusually 

 bright, and the geese and ducks were observed to take a southerly 

 course in large flocks. On the morning of the 20th we came to 

 a party of Indians, encamped behind the bank of the river on the 

 borders of a small marshy lake, for the purpose of killing water-fowl. 

 Here we were gratified with the view of a very large tent. Its length 

 was about forty feet, its breadth eighteen, and its covering was moose 

 deer leather, with apertures for the escape of the smoke from the 

 fires which were placed at each end ; a ledge of wood was placed on 

 the ground on both sides the whole length of the tent, within which 

 were the sleeping places, arranged probably according to families ; 

 and the drums and other instruments of enchantment were piled up 

 in the centre. Amongst the Indians there were a great many half- 

 breeds, who led an Indian life. Governor Wilhams gave a dram and 

 a piece of tobacco to each of the males of the party. 



On the morning of the 21st a heavy fall of snow took place, which 

 lasted until two in the afternoon. In the evening we left the Sas- 

 katchewan, and entered the Little Kiver, one of the two streams by 

 which Pine Island Lake discharges its waters. We advanced to-day 

 fourteen miles and a quarter. On the 2 2d the weather was extremely 

 cold and stormy, and we had to contend against a strong head wind. 

 The spray froze as it fell, and the oars were so loaded with ice as to 

 be almost unmanageable. The length of our voyage this day was 

 eleven miles. 



The following morning was very cold ; we embarked at day-light, 

 and pulled across a part of Pine Island Lake, about three miles and a 

 half to Cumberland House. The margin of the lake was so encrusted 

 with ice, that we had to break through a considerable space of it to 

 approach the landing place. When we considered that this was the 

 effect of only a few days' frost at the commencement of winter, we 

 were convinced of the impracticability of advancing further by water 



