This rain was remarked by the Indians as unusual after what they had deemed so decided a commencement of winter in the early part of the month.

The mean temperature for the month was 33 3/4 degrees, but the thermometer had sunk as low as 16 degrees and on one occasion rose to 53 degrees.
Besides the party constantly employed at the house two men were appointed to fish and others were occasionally sent for meat as the hunters procured it.

This latter employment, although extremely laborious, was always relished by the Canadians as they never failed to use a prescriptive right of helping themselves to the fattest and most delicate parts of the deer.

Towards the end of the month the reindeer began to quit the barren grounds and came into the vicinity of the house on their way to the woods and, the success of the hunters being consequently great, the necessity of sending for the meat considerably retarded the building of the house.

In the meantime we resided in our canvas tents which proved very cold habitations although we maintained a fire in front of them and also endeavoured to protect ourselves from the piercing winds by a barricade of pine branches.
On the 6th of October, the house being completed, we struck our tents and removed into it.