﻿32 EOUTES THROUGH THE INTERIOR. 1848. 



CHAP. II. 



OVERLAND SEARCHING EXPEDITION. ROUTES THROUGH THE 



INTERIOR. — Hudson's bay ships pemican. — boats, — 



BOAT party leaves ENGLAND. ARRIVES AT -WINTER 



QUARTERS VOLUNTEERS. MR. JOHN RAE APPOINTED TO 



THE EXPEDITION. THE AUTHOR AND MR. RAE SAIL FROM 



ENGLAND. — LAND AT NEW YORK. — PROCEED TO MONTREAL 



AND LA CHINE CANOE-MEN. SAUT STE. MARIE. VOYAGE 



TO THE NORTH. — REACH CUMBERLAND HOUSE. 



The preceding pages contain an exposition of the 

 objects of the expedition, with a general outline 

 of the course to be pursued after leaving the Mac- 

 kenzie ; but as that great river can be attained only 

 by a long and laborious lake and river navigation, 

 it is proper that I should introduce the narrative 

 by a brief account of that first stage of our over- 

 land journey. There are two routes to the Mac- 

 kenzie, one of which, traced at an early period by 

 the Canadian fur companies, passes through Lakes 

 Huron and Superior, the Kamenistikwoya, or Dog 

 River, the Lake of the Woods, Rainy Lake, Lake 

 Winipeg, Cedar Lake, the Saskatchewan River, 

 Beaver and Half-moon Lakes, Churchill or English 

 River, Isle a la Crosse Buffalo and Methy Lakes 

 to the Methy Portage, and the Clear- water or Little 

 Athabasca River, one of the affluents of the Mac- 



