29 



CHAPTEE III. 



MISTA-KA-PITAGAN, OR THE GRAND PORTAGK. 



High- Water Portage The Moisie Rapids Dimensions The 

 Boulders of the Moisie Rapids Labradorite Fire-Rocks 

 Montagnais and Cree Dialects Vapour Baths Essence of 

 Ginger The Mista-ka-pitagan, or Grand Portage Description of 

 View from the Grand Portage Spruce-bark Lodges Frozen 

 Rain-drops Beautiful Spectacle Extraordinary Low Tempera- 

 ture The Ascent of the Rapids in Canoes Salmon Dangers 

 of the Ascent Indian Skill Move Camp Desolateness of the 

 Country Probable Remains of Early Missionaries Symmetrical 

 Arrangement of Boulders. 



it impossible to ascend to the foot of the 

 Kapitls where the Mista-ka-pitagan or the Grand 

 Portage begins, in consequence of the high flood in the 

 river,. we were compelled either to land our baggage and 

 canoes at the fishing station described at the close of the 

 last chapter, and cut our way through the woods to the 

 foot of the Eapids, or wait until the waters in the river 

 fell at least three feet. 



Three men were despatched to examine the path over 

 the high-water portage and report on its condition. This 

 portage is only passed in the spring of the year, or during 

 a freshet, by Indians ascending the river. 



The men returned in the evening with the intelligence 

 that the path was ' rough,' but with some little ' cutting 

 out ' the canoes and baggage could be passed over it. It 



