176 A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



him for whom the gardens of Europe had no charms, or the mild 

 beauties of a southern clime had bloomed in vain. 



Mr. Williams found a delightful occupation in his agricultural 

 pursuits. The horses were brought to the plough, and fields of 

 wheat, barley, and Indian corn, promised to reward his labours. 

 His dairy furnished us with all the luxuries of an English farm. 



On the 25th the ice departed from Pine Island Lake. We were, 

 however, informed that Beaver Lake, which was likewise in our 

 route, would not afford a passage before the 4th of June. Accord- 

 ing to directions left by Mr. Franklin, applications were made to 

 the Chiefs of the Hudson's Bay and North- West Companies' posts, 

 for two canoes, with their crews, and a supply of stores, for the use 

 of the Expedition. They were not in a condition to comply with 

 this request till the arrival of their respective returns from Isle a la 

 Crosse and the Saskatchawan departments. Of the six men whom 

 we brought from England, the most serviceable, John Hepburn, 

 had accompanied Mr. Franklin, and only one other desired to prose- 

 cute the journey with us. Mr. Franklin had made arrangements 

 with Mr. Williams for the employment of the remaining five men 

 in bringing to Cumberland House the ammunition, tobacco, c, left 

 at York Fort, which stores were, if possible, to be sent after us in 

 the summer. On the 30th Dr. Richardson returned from Carlton 

 House, and on the 31st the boats arrived belonging to the Hudson's 

 Bay Company's Saskatchawan department. We obtained a canoe 

 and two more volunteers. On the 1st of June the Saskatchawan, 

 swelled by the melting of the snow near the rocky mountains, rose 

 twelve feet, and the current of the little rivers bounding Pine Island 

 ran back into the lake, which it filled with mud. 



On the 5th the North- West Company's people arrived, and Mr. 

 Conolly furnished us with a canoe and five Canadians. They were 

 engaged to attend us till Mr. Franklin should think fit to discharge; 

 them, and bound under the usual penalties in case of disobedience, or 



