INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM THE NATIVES. 81 



The relative bearings of several lakes, which 

 many of their number had frequently visited, 

 and of which, in fact, they knew every winding, 

 were equally involved in doubt and obscurity. 

 In one point alone were they positive and una- 

 nimous ; and that was, the superiority and many 

 advantages of the Teh-Ion over the Thlew-ee- 

 choh. The former was described as being a 

 broad and noble stream, decorated on either 

 bank with tall pine and birch, and flowing in 

 uninterrupted tranquillity to its journey's end. 

 The latter was graphically pourtrayed, as ori- 

 ginating in rapids — narrow, shoal, and dan- 

 gerous — destitute of wood, even for fuel — full of 

 dangerous cascades and falls — and after a course 

 more tortuous than that of any river known to 

 the oldest and most experienced of their tribe, 

 tumbling over its northern barrier in a foaming 

 cataract into the sea. 



They also affirmed — agreeing in this respect 

 with the information which had previously been 

 given me at Lake Winnipeg, that the distance be- 

 tween the mouths of the rivers was inconsiderable ; 

 and concluded by saying, that if the Great Chief 

 was determined on going to the Thlew-ee-choh, 

 it would be without an escort of Indians, who, 

 inured as they were to privation, would not 

 expose themselves to the suffering which, in a 

 district so sterile, was inevitable. To say the 



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