128 A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



panions had done. After marching eighteen miles we put up on 

 Gravel Point, in the Deep Kiver. 



At nine the next morning, we came to the commencement of 

 Clear Lake. We crossed its southern extremes, and then went over 

 a point of land to Buffalo Lake, and encamped after travelling 

 twenty-six miles. After supper we were entertained until mid- 

 night with paddling songs, by our Canadians who required very 

 little stimulus beside their natural vivacity, to afford us this 

 diversion. The next morning we arrived at the establishments 

 which are situated on the western side of the lake, near to a small 

 stream, called the Beaver River. They were small log buildings, 

 hastily erected last October, for the convenience of the Indians 

 who hunt in the vicinity. Mr. Mac Murray, a partner in the 

 N.W. Company, having sent to Isle a la Crosse an invitation to 

 Mr. Back and me, our carioles were driven to his post, and we 

 experienced the kindest reception. These posts are frequented by 

 only a few Indians, Crees, and Chipewyans. The country round 

 is not sufficiently stocked with animals to afford support to many 

 families, and the traders almost entirely subsist on fish caught in 

 the autumn, prior to the lake being frozen. The water being 

 shallow, the fish remove to a deeper part, as soon as the lake is co- 

 vered with ice. The Aurora Borealis was brilliantly displayed on 

 both the nights we remained here, but particularly on the 7th, when 

 its appearances were most diversified, and the motion extremely 

 rapid. Its coruscations occasionally concealed from sight stars of 

 the first magnitude in passing over them, at other times these were 

 faintly discerned through them ; once I perceived a stream of light 

 to illumine the under surface of some clouds as it passed along. 

 There was no perceptible noise. 



Mr. Mac Murray gave a dance to his voyagers and the half-breed 

 women; this is a treat which they expect on the arrival of any 

 stranger at the post. 



