" The whole of this section of the country is simply a bed of stones 
no gravel or earth of any kind, but the stones piled on each other with 
great holes between. The country much the same in appearance, only 
less large bluffs of rock, and now and again large areas covered with 
loose stones. No bushes, except on the borders of lakes, and occa- 
sionally small patches of grass in the hollows. 
"June 19th. Left the men packing down to the lake and started 
ahead to see some clumps of large pines. The bay we first reach is a 
long inlet, running north and south about six miles. At its northern 
end it widens out, forming a large, apparently circular lake of about ten 
miles in diameter. The narrows being three or four miles wide, we 
there took the western shore and passed over a pretty fair level country, 
having more soil and stretches of grass, and sandy hills and ridges, and 
several patches of pines suitable for building purposes and firewood. 
On the whole it is the best country seen since leaving Slave Lake. 
Parties who took the east shtjre of the bay report the country unsually 
smooth and level. All around the lake there is plenty of firewood. A 
small river runs out to the south from the north east end of the bay. 
Our party with the dog trains followed the east and south shores of the 
lake, and camped at the south east end, having made some sixteen or 
eighteen miles. Good travelling on the ice. Duration of sun light for 
the day, 2oh., 40". 
June 20th. Left camp about mid-day and made a portage to the 
east of about two and a half miles into a long, narrow lake, running 
northwards. Went about two miles on this lake, and camped on a dry 
point. The country north of this appears level as far as one can see, 
and less covered with boulders and rock than that we have left behind. 
Small bushes of pines in clumps in the low ground. The travelling on 
the ice is much improved, owing to the surface water having drained 
off. 
June 2 1 st. Taking the right side of the lake we found the country 
much more level than we had seen it. It consists of long, smooth, 
sandy ridges, covered thinly with bunch grass, while ii the muskegs and 
on the edges of the numerous small lakes much more grass is to be 
found, with small pine bushes in the sheltered spots. We must now be 
getting very near to the so called last woods." 
