148 



A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



though the ice remained firm on the lake. The anemone (pulsatilla, 

 pasque flower,) appeared this day in flower, the trees began to put 

 forth their leaves, and the musquitoes visited the warm rooms. On 

 the 17th and 18th there were frequent showers of rain, and much 

 thunder and lightning. This moist weather caused the ice to waste 

 so rapidly, that by the 24th it had entirely disappeared from the 

 lake. The gentlemen belonging to both the Companies quickly 

 arrived from the different posts in this department, bringing their 

 winter's collection of furs, which are forwarded from these establish- 

 ments to the depots. 



I immediately waited on Mr. Colin Robertson, the agent of the 

 Hudson's Bay Company, and communicated to him, as I had done 

 before to the several partners of the North- West Company, our plan, 

 and the requisitions we should have to make on each Company, and I 

 requested of all the gentlemen the favour of their advice and sug- 

 gestions. As I perceived that the arrangement of their winter ac- 

 counts, and other business, fully occupied them, I forbore further 

 pressing the subject of our concerns for some days, and until there 

 was an appearance of despatching the first brigade of canoes. It 

 then became necessary to urge their attention to them ; but it was 

 evident, from the determined commercial opposition, and the total 

 want of intercourse between the two Companies, that we could not 

 expect to receive any cordial advice, or the assurance of the aid of 

 both, without devising some expedient to bring the parties together. 

 I therefore caused a tent to be pitched at a distance from both esta- 

 blishments, and solicited the gentlemen of both Companies to meet 

 Mr. Back and me there, for the purpose of affording us their com- 

 bined assistance. 



This request was immediately complied with ; and on May 25th 

 we were joined at the tent by Mr. Stuart and Mr. Grant, of the 

 North- West Company, and Mr. Colin Robertson, of the Hudson's 



