experiencing much bad weather, adverse winds, together with showers of
snow, we reached Fort William on the 28th, about noon.

We found the grand depôt of the North-West Company falling rapidly
to decay, presenting in its present ruinous state but a shadow of
departed greatness. It is now occupied as a petty post, a few Indians
and two or three old voyageurs being the sole representatives of
the crowded throngs of former times. It must have been a beautiful
establishment in its days of prosperity; but the buildings certainly
do not appear to have been erected with a view to durability. We
here exchanged our large Montreal canoes for those of the North,
(the former carrying seventy packages of ninety pounds, the latter
twenty-five, exclusive of provisions;) and each of the passengers had
a canoe for his own accommodation--an arrangement that seemed to
increase in no small degree the self-importance of some of our number.
Our guide was now obliged to perform the duty of bowsman, still,
however, retaining his authority over the whole brigade.

We bade adieu to Fort William and its hospitable commander on the
29th. Mr. McI----h had supplied all our wants most liberally, but
the men were now allowed only Indian corn and a small quantity of
grease;--a sad and unpleasing change for poor Jean Baptiste; but he
had no help but to submit, though not perhaps with the utmost
"Christian resignation."

Our men being now well disciplined, and our canoes comparatively
light, we sped over our way at an excellent rate. We encamped on the
4th of June at one of the Thousand Lakes, and the canoes were drawn
up before M. Thibaud (the priest) arrived. I was surprised to observe
his frowning aspect on landing, and ascribed it to the circumstance of