210 A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



no estimation can be formed of its extent in that direction. These 

 men say there is a communication from its eastern extremity by a 

 chain of lakes, with a shallow river, which discharges its waters into 

 the sea. This stream they call the Thlouee-tessy, and report it to be 

 navigable for Indian canoes only. The forms of the south and 

 western shores are better known from the survey of Sir Alexander 

 Mackenzie, and in consequence of the canoes having to pass and 

 repass along these borders annually, between Moose-Deer Island 

 and Mackenzie's River. Our observations made the breadth of the 

 lake, between Stoney Island, and the north main shore, sixty miles 

 less than it is laid down in Arrowsmith's map ; and there is also a 

 considerable difference in the longitude of the eastern side of the 

 bay, which we entered. 



This lake, owing to its great depth, is seldom completely frozen 



before the last week in November, and the ice, which 



g 



rally seven feet thick, breaks up about the middle of June, three 

 weeks later than that of the Slave River. The only known outlet 

 to this vast body of water, which receives so many streams on its 

 north and south shores, is the Mackenzie's River. 



August 3. — We embarked at three A.M., and proceeded to the 

 entrance of the Yellow- Knife River of the traders, which is called 

 by the natives Beg-ho-lo-dessy ; or, River of the Toothless 

 Fish. We found Akaitcho, and the hunters with their families, 

 encamped here. There were also several other Indians of his tribe, 

 who intended to accompany us some distance into the interior. 

 This party was quickly in motion after our arrival, and we were 

 soon surrounded by a fleet of seventeen Indian canoes. In com- 

 pany with them we paddled up the river, which is one hundred 

 and fifty yards wide, and, in an hour, came to a cascade of five feet, 

 where we were compelled to make a portage of one hundred and 

 fifty-eight yards. We next crossed a dilatation of the river, about 

 six miles in length, upon which the name of Lake Prosperous was 



