The morning of the 7th October was beautifully clear and the observations we obtained place Norway House in latitude 53 degrees 41 minutes 38 seconds North, and longitude 98 degrees 1 minute 24 seconds West; the variation of the magnetic needle 14 degrees 12 minutes 41 seconds East, and its dip 83 degrees 40 minutes 10 seconds.  Though our route from York Factory has rather inclined to the South-West the dip, it will be perceived, has gradually increased.  The difference produced by reversing the face of the instrument was 7 degrees 39 minutes.  There was too much wind to admit of our observing with any degree of accuracy the quantity of the magnetic force.

We left Norway House soon after noon and, the wind being favourable, sailed along the northern shore of Lake Winnipeg the whole of the ensuing night; and on the morning of the 8th landed on a narrow ridge of sand which, running out twenty miles to the westward, separates Limestone Bay from the body of the Lake.  When the wind blows hard from the southward it is customary to carry boats across this isthmus and to pull up under its lee.  From Norwegian Point to Limestone Bay the shore consists of high clay cliffs against which the waves beat with violence during strong southerly winds.  When the wind blows from the land and the waters of the lake are low a narrow sandy beach is uncovered and affords a landing-place for boats.  The shores of Limestone Bay are covered with small fragments of calcareous stones.  During the night the Aurora Borealis was quick in its motions and various and vivid in its colours.  After breakfasting we reembarked and continued our voyage until three P.M., when a strong westerly wind arising we were obliged to shelter ourselves on a small island which lies near the extremity of the above-mentioned peninsula.  This island is formed of a collection of small rolled pieces of limestone and was remembered by some of our boatman to have been formerly covered with water.  For the last ten or twelve years the waters of the lake have been low, but our information did not enable us to judge whether the decrease was merely casual, or going on continually, or periodical.  The distance of this island from Norway House is thirty-eight miles and a half.

River Saskatchewan.

The westerly winds detained us all the morning of the 9th but at two P.M. the wind chopped round to the eastward; we immediately embarked and the breeze afterwards freshening we reached the mouth of the Saskatchewan at midnight having run thirty-two miles.

Sunday, October 10.

The whole of this day was occupied in getting the boats from the mouth of the river to the foot of the grand rapid, a distance of two miles.  There are several rapids in this short distance during which the river varies its breadth from five hundred yards to half a mile.  Its channel is stony.  At the grand rapid the Saskatchewan forms a sudden bend from south to east and works its way through a narrow