OF THE POLAR SEA. 



27 



CHAPTEE II. 



Passage up Hayes', Steel, and Hill Rivers— Cross Swampy Lake— Jack River— Knee Lake 

 and Magnetic Islet — Trout River— Holey Lake — Weepinapannis River — Windy Lake— 

 White-Fall Lake and River — Echemamis and Lea Rivers — Play-Green Lakes — Lake Wi- 

 nipeg — River Saskatchawan — Cross, Cedar, and Pine-Island Lakes — Cumberland House. 



1819. 



September. v^N the 9th of September, our boat being completed, 

 arrangements were made for our departure as soon as the tide, 

 should serve. But, when the stores were brought down to the beach 

 it was found that the boat would not contain them all. The whole, 

 therefore, of the bacon, and part of the flour, rice, tobacco, and ammuni- 

 tion, were returned into the store. The bacon was too bulky an article 

 to be forwarded under any circumstances ; but the Governor under- 

 took to forward the rest next season. In making the selection of ar- 

 ticles to carry with us, I was guided by the judgment of Governor Wil- 

 liams, who assured me that tobacco, ammunition, and spirits, could be 

 procured in the interior, otherwise I should have been very unwilling 

 to have left these essential articles behind. We embarked at noon, and 

 were honoured with a salute of eight guns and three cheers from the 

 Governor and all the inmates of the fort, assembled to witness our 

 departure. We gratefully returned their cheers, and then made sail, 

 much delighted at having now commenced our voyage into the interior 

 of America. The wind and tide failing us at the distance of six miles 

 above the Factory, and the current being too rapid for using oars to 

 advantage, the crew had to commence tracking, or dragging the boat 

 by a line, to which they were harnessed. This operation is extremely 

 laborious in these rivers. Our men were obliged to walk along the 

 steep declivity of a high bank, rendered at this season soft and slip- 



E 2 



