They continued for upwards of five minutes as near as he could judge and made a loud rustling noise like the waving of a flag in a strong breeze.

After they had ceased the sky became clear with little wind.
February 9.
Having got everything arranged and had a hearty breakfast with a coupe de l'eau de vie (a custom amongst the traders) I took my departure or rather attempted to do so for, on going to the gate, there was a long range of women who came to bid me farewell.

They were all dressed (after the manner of the country) in blue or green cloth, with their hair fresh greased, separated before, and falling down behind, not in careless tresses but in a good sound tail, fastened with black tape or riband.
This was considered a great compliment and the ceremony consisted in embracing the whole party.
I had with me four sledges laden with goods for the Expedition and a fifth belonging to the Hudson's Bay Company.

We returned exactly by the same route, suffering no other inconvenience but that arising from the chafing of the snowshoe and bad weather.

Some Indians whom we met on the banks of the Little Buffalo River were rather surprised at seeing us, for they had heard that we were on an island which was surrounded by Esquimaux.