250 THE NORTH-WEST PASSAGE BY LAND. 



the succeeding trunk. We camped tliat niglit on the 

 l)anks of a small stream, a source of the Myette, which 

 our Iroquois told us was named Pipestone Biver. The 

 place was very pretty, a tiny plain, covered with 

 flowers, and surrounded by the Eocky Mountains in 

 all their grandeur. 



The path proved easier the next day, the 9th of 

 July, the fifth day after leaving Jasper House, and in 

 the course of our morning's journey we were surprised 

 by coming upon a stream flowing to the westward. 

 We had unconsciously passed the height of land and 

 gained the watershed of the Pacific. The ascent had 

 been so gradual and imperceptible, that, until we had 

 the evidence of the water-flow, we had no suspicion 

 that we were even near the dividing ridge. 



The next afternoon found us encamped at Buffalo- 

 dung Lake, which the Iroquois assured us was well 

 stocked wdth trout ; and several Shushwap slants 

 of bark, and frames for drpng fish, bore out his 

 assertion. The lake consists of tw^o poi4^ions, connected 

 by a short, narrow channel. The mountains appeared 

 to rise immediately out of the water on the further 

 or southern shore of the lake, whilst close behind us 

 on the northern side, commenced verdant and swelling 

 hills, the bases of loftier heights, which rose up. 

 further back in many a naked, ragged rock or ice- 

 crowned peak. Two of these on opposite sides of the 

 lake were particularly fine, one to the north-west, the 

 other to the south-west ; and the Iroquois assured us 

 that they should be known from that time forth as 

 "Le Montague de Milord" and "Montague de Docteur." 



