OF THE POLAR SEA. 



187 



mouth of the Methye River. The lake is thirty-four miles in length, 

 and fourteen in breadth. It is probably very deep, for we saw no 

 islands in this wide expanse, except at the borders. On the south- 

 west side were two forts, belonging to the Companies, and near them 

 a solitary hill seven or eight hundred feet high. At eight P.M. we 

 encamped in the Methye River, at the confluence of the river Pem- 

 bina. A route has been explored by it to the Red Willow River, 

 across the height of land, but the difficulties of it were so great, 



that the ordinary route is preferred. 



On the 3d we passed through the Methye River, and encamped 

 on the borders of the Methye Lake. The soil from Isle a la Crosse 

 to this place is sandy, with some portion of clay, and the trees nu- 

 merous ; but the Methye River is stoney, and so shallow, that, to 

 lighten the canoes, we made two portages of five and two miles. The 

 paths were overflowed with cold spring water, and barricadoed by 

 fallen trees ; we should have been contented to immerse ourselves 

 wholly had the puddle been sufficiently deep, for the musquitoes de- 

 voured every part that was exposed to them. 



On the 4th we crossed the Methye Lake, and landed at the portage 

 on the north-west side, in one of the sources of the Missinnippi. 

 The lake is seventeen miles in length, with a large island in the 

 middle. We proceeded to the north side of the portage with two 

 men, carrying a tent and some instruments, leaving the canoes and 

 cargoes to be transported by daily journeys of two or three miles. 

 The distance is fourteen statute miles, and there are two small lakes 

 about five miles from the north side. Several species of fish were 

 found in them, though they have no known communication with 

 any other body of water, being situated on the elevation of the 

 height. The road was a gentle ascent, miry from the late rainy 

 weather, and shaded by pines, poplars, birches, and cypresses, which 

 terminated our view. On the north side we discovered through an 

 opening in the trees, that we were on a hill eight or nine hundred 



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