﻿June, 1848. REACH CUMBERLAND HOUSE. 53 



Two days were occupied in re-packing our bag- 

 gage, instruments, and provisions, in cases weigh- 

 ing 90 lbs. each (being the established size for 

 the portages) ; in which, and in all other matters 

 connected with our equipment and comfort, we 

 experienced great assistance and personal kindness 

 from Mr. Ballenden. On the 2nd of May, 1851, 

 we quitted his hospitable roof, but it was the 4th 

 before the ice on the lake broke up, and permitted 

 us to pass the portal of the lake formed by Gros 

 Cap and Point Iroquois. 



We accomplished the navigation of the lake on 

 the 12th by arriving at Fort William, attained the 

 summit of the water- shed which separates the St. 

 Lawrence and Winipeg valleys on the 18th*, the 

 mouth of the River Winipeg on the 29th, Norway 

 House, near the efflux of Nelson Eiver, on the 5th 

 of June, and Cumberland House, on the Saskat- 

 chewan, on the 13th; our passage through Lake 

 Winipeg having been much delayed by ice, from 

 which we did not disengage ourselves till the 9th. 



We learnt at Cumberland House, that Mr. Bell 

 had given the boats a thorough repair at Cedar 

 Lake in the spring, had brought them and the 



* Dog Lake, near the summit of this water-shed, broke up 

 only on the eve of our arrival ; an Indian whom we met on the 

 Kamenistikwoya, which flows from it, having crossed it on the 

 preceding day over the ice. 



E 3 



