Observers' Field Reports 87 



of the trip was on the lake to Root River, up this to Lake St. Joseph, then about 50 miles of 

 lake travel to Osnaburp;h. This proved rather strenuous work at first, paddling vigorously 

 about 10 or more hours a day, with occasional portages. By hard work we managed to 

 make this distance of about 153 miles in the very quick time of 3| days actual travel and 

 2 days for observations. About half of this distance was on the lakes and permitted the 

 occasional use of the sail. Generally there are many islands on the lakes and many turns, 

 and Indians make use of many cutoffs, so that it is very bewildering and much time might 

 be lost by anj'one trying to find his way without local guides. Root River, named after 

 the luniiber of roots and stumps in the stream, is narrow, except where it spreads out into 

 small lakes. The current is rather slow, the fall in elevation taking place at the rapids or 

 falls. There are 10 of these between Lac Seul and Lake St. Joseph, where it is usual to port- 

 age. The portage-trails on this stretch are usually short and over very good ground. .411 

 supplies for Osnaburgh House and Fort Hope and their outposts are taken every year by 

 lainich and York boats and freight canoes over this route from Lac Seul, and during this 

 period there are always many Indians to be found along the line. The Hudson's Bay 

 Company has built storehouses at convenient points for facilitating the transportation 

 of the goods, but these are deserted at all other times. 



So far as possible, the attempt was made to occupy the stations established in 1885 

 by Thomas Fawcett. At Lac Seul, from later information, we seemed to be a few feet to 

 the NNE. of his point. At Perch Ripple we were perhaps within 100 yards, Fawcett's 

 station being possibly across the stream. At Pigeon Portage we were probably within 50 

 feet, and at Fawcett's Post the exact spot is still marked by a post upheld by a pile of rock. 

 During a greater part of the time it rained or stormed, but luckily it cleared off sufficiently 

 for astronomical observations at exactly the places previously selected for observations. 

 At Osnaburgh a series of 5-minute declination readings was taken. 



Considerable difficultj^ was experienced at Osnaburgh in obtaining Indians to go further 

 with us, only one of the Indians from Lac Seul remaining. This is the time of the year for 

 the government Indian agent to make his rounds, and the Indians who belong to the treaty 

 are summoned to their respective posts on certain dates to receive the government allowance 

 of .|4 a head for every man, woman, and child. There are also generallj' a feast and some 

 sports with prizes, and most of the Indians had made their preparations to be present. We 

 at last obtained 3 Indians who promised to make the whole trip with us, but one of these, 

 a French half-breed, proved objectionable and was discharged later. The Indians in general 

 were afraid of the long journey and the unknown perils of the route and because of the 

 rumors of quarrelsome Indian tribes we would meet. 



From Osnaburgh House we went back towards the west end of the lake and proceeded 

 up Cat River to Cat Lake. The low state of the water compelled us at times to go off 

 the regular line, and in that way we were not always able to occupy the stations of Fawcett. 

 Ochichoo Chooena Falls and Cat Lake (Hudson's Bay Company post) were, however, 

 very close to Fawcett's old stations. Slate Falls may have been anywhere from one-half 

 to 4 miles distant. At Cat Lake I took one canoe very lightly loaded and 3 Indians, and 

 made a trip about half-way to Whitestone Lake and then to the west to Birch or Wig- 

 wasikak Lake, Mr. Wise remaining at Cat Lake to make arrangements if possible for local 

 guides for further work. A great part of the travel from Osnaburgh House to Cat Lake 

 and to Birch Lake is on expansions of the streams into lakes. These are sometimes well 

 dotted with islands and are subject to breezes which are considered dangerous by the 

 Indians. Even more time could be lost on this part of the trip without local guides than 

 on the previous part, on account of the less sharply defined streams. The portages be- 

 come more diflScult, owing to the swampy muskeg character of the ground. As far as Cat 

 Lake the maps used, although "exploratory," gave the positions with considerable accuracy 

 and detail. From Cat Lake to Pakhoan Lake and from Trout Lake to Severn, the details 



