200 A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



considerable swelling, but is attended with incomparably less irri- 

 tation, than the puncture of the musquito. 



On the 27 th of July we embarked at four A.M., and proceeded 

 along the south shore of the lake, through a narrow channel, formed 

 by some islands, beyond the confluence of the principal branch of 

 the Slave River ; and as far as Stoney Island, where we breakfasted. 

 This island is merely a rock of gneiss, that rises forty or fifty feet 

 above the lake, and is precipitous on the north side. As the day 

 was fine, and the lake smooth, we ventured upon paddling across to 

 the Rein-deer Islands, which were distant about thirteen miles in a 

 northern direction, instead of pursuing the usual track by keeping 

 further along the south shore, which inclines to the eastward from 

 this point. These islands are numerous, and consist of granite, 

 rising from one hundred to two hundred feet above the water. 

 They are for the most part naked ; but towards the centres of the 

 larger ones, there is a little soil, and a few groves of pines. At seven 

 in the evening we landed upon one of them, and encamped. On 

 the following morning we ran before a strong breeze, and a heavy 

 swell, for some hours, but at length were obliged to seek shelter on 

 a large island adjoining to Isle a. la Cache of Mackenzie, where the 

 following observations were obtained: latitude 61° 50' 18" N., Ion-, 

 gitude 113° 21' 40" W., and variation 31° 2' 06" E. 



The wind and swell having subsided in the afternoon, we re- 

 embarked, and steered towards the western point of the Big Island of 

 Mackenzie, and when four miles distant from it, had forty-two 

 fathoms soundings. Passing between this island and a promontory 

 of the main shore, termed Big Cape, we entered into a deep bay, 

 which receives the waters from several rivers that come from the 

 northward ; and we immediately perceived a decrease in the temper^ 

 ature of the water, from 59° to 48°. We coasted along the eastern 

 gide of the bay, its western shore being always visible, but the 



