If the snow be loose the speed is necessarily much less and the fatigue greater.
At eight in the morning of the 18th, we quitted the fort, and took leave of our hospitable friend, Governor Williams, whose kindness and attention I shall ever remember with gratitude.

Dr.Richardson, Mr.
Hood, and Mr.Connolly, accompanied us along the Saskatchawan until the snow became too deep for their walking without snow-shoes.

We then parted from our associates, with sincere regret at the prospect of a long separation.

Being accompanied by Mr.Mackenzie, of the Hudson's Bay Company, who was going to Isle a la Crosse, with four sledges under his charge, we formed quite a procession, keeping in an Indian file, on the track of the man who preceded the foremost dogs; but, as the snow was deep, we proceeded slowly on the surface of the river, which is about three hundred and fifty yards wide, for the distance of six miles, which we went this day.

Its alluvial banks and islands are clothed with willows.