OF THE POLAR SEA. 



153 



traders, of whose submission there was no prospect, threatened to 

 extirpate them. None of these menaces, however, were put in 

 execution. They were probably deterred from the attempt by 

 perceiving that a most vigilant guard was kept over them. 



The portion of this extensive lake which is near to the establish- 

 ments, is called " The Lake of the Hills" not improperly, as the 

 northern shore and the islands are high and rocky. The south 

 side, however, is quite level, consisting of alluvial land, subject to be 

 flooded, lying betwixt the different mouths of the Elk River, and 

 much intersected by water. The rocks on the northern shore are 

 composed of syenite over which the soil is thinly spread ; it is, how- 

 ever, sufficient to support a variety of firs and poplars, and many 

 shrubs, lichens and mosses. The trees are now in full foliage, and 

 the plants generally in flower, and the whole scene is quite en- 

 livening. There can scarcely be a higher gratification than that which 

 is enjoyed in this country in witnessing the rapid change which 

 takes place in the course of a few days in the spring ; scarcely does 



the snow disappear from the ground, before the trees are clothed 

 with thick foliage, the shrubs open their leaves and put forth their 

 variegated flowers, and the whole prospect becomes animating. The 

 spaces between the rocky hills, being for the most part swampy, 

 support willows and a few poplars. These spots are the favourite 

 resort of the musquitoes, which incessantly torment the unfortunate 

 persons who have to pass through them. 



Some of the hills attain an elevation of ^ve or six hundred feet, 

 at the distance of a mile from the house ; and from their summits 

 a very picturesque view is commanded of the lake, and of the sur- 

 rounding country. The land above the Great Point at the con- 

 fluence of the main stream of the Elk Kiver is six or seven hundred 

 feet high, and stretches in a southern direction behind Pierre au 

 Calumet. Opposite to that establishment, on the west side of the 



river, at some distance in the interior, the Bark Mountain rises and 



x 



