OF THE POLAR SEA. 



49 



this season, and therefore resolved on accepting Governor Williams's 

 kind invitation to remain with him at this post. We immediately 

 visited Mr. Connolly, the resident partner of the North-West Com- 

 pany, and presented to him Mr. Mac Gillivray's circular letter. He 

 assured us that he should be most desirous to forward our progress 

 by every means in his power, and we subsequently had ample proofs 

 of his sincerity and kindness. The unexpected addition of our party 

 to the winter residents at this post, rendered an increase of apart- 

 ments necessary ; and our men were immediately appointed to com- 

 plete and arrange an, unfinished building as speedily as possible. 



November 8. — Some mild weather succeeded to the severe frosts we 

 had at our arrival; and the lake had not been entirely frozen before the 

 6th; but this morning the ice was sufficiently firm to admit of sledges 

 crossing it. The dogs were harnessed at a very early hour, and the 

 winter operations commenced by sending for a supply of fish from 

 Swampy Kiver, where men had been stationed to collect it, just before 

 the frost set in. Both men and dogs appeared to enjoy the change ; 

 they started in full glee, and drove rapidly along. An Indian, who 

 had come to the house on the preceding evening to request some 

 provision for his family, whom he represented to be in a state of 

 starvation, accompanied them. His party had been suffering greatly 

 under the epidemic diseases of the hooping-cough and measles ; and 

 the hunters were still in too debilitated a state to go out and provide 

 them with meat. A supply was given to him, and the men were di- 

 rected to bring his father, an old and faithful hunter, to the house, 

 that he might have the comforts of nourishment and warmth. He 

 was brought accordingly, but these attentions were unavailing as he 

 died a few days afterwards. Two days before his death I was sur- 

 prised to observe him sitting for near three hours, in a piercingly sharp 

 day, in the saw-pit, employed in gathering the dust, and throwing it 

 by handfuls over his body, which was naked to the waist. As the 

 man was in possession of his mental faculties, I conceived he was per- 

 il 



