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THE MJSTASSINI REGION. 



By A. P. Low, B. App. Sc. 



(Read January 10th, 1890.) 

 For several years past an exciting controversy has been carried on 

 in the public press as to the size, shape, and position of Lake Mistassini ; 

 and a number of writers on the strength of hearsay evidence, aided by 

 brilliant imaginations, have indulged in many extravagant statements 

 in regard to this " Great Inland Sea of the North-East," some affirming 

 that it equalled, if indeed it did not surpass, Lake Superior in size, and 

 that in comparison with it our other inland lakes were mere ponds. 



This evening I propose to give a brief statement of the known 

 facts about Mistassini from observations and measurements made by 

 different members of the Geological Survey Staff, and at the same time 

 to outline the route followed, to and from the lake, by the last expedi- 

 tion sent out by the Government. 



Before entering upon this, a short historical summary of previous 

 explorations may prove interesting to some present. 



Although rumours of a great body of fresh water, larger than any 

 south of the height of land, seem to have reached the French trading in 

 the Saguenay country, soon after Champlain's arrival in Canada, it was 

 not until 1672, that Pere Chas. Albanel, a Jesuit missionary, visited 

 the lake. He had been sent overland to Hudson Bay by authority of 

 the French Governor, to visit the posts of the Hudson Bay Co., then 

 but a short time established in the southern part of the bay. 



The route followed on this occasion, was up the Saguenay to Lake 

 St. John, thence by the Ashouapmouchouan River to its head, across 

 the height of land, and through lakes Chibougamoo and Obatagoman, 

 large bodies of water feeding the Notaway River, which flows into 

 James Bay. From here by short portages into Lake Wawaniche, and 



so into the S.W. Bay of Mistassini. 



Pere Albanel, from his account recorded in the " Relations des 



Jesuites," appears to have passed up this bay to the end of the point 



separating it from the S.W. Bay, and from there crossed the mouth of 



