MUSK-OX LAKE. 15Q 



form from long exposure to attrition. I fancied, 

 at this time, that it might have been produced 

 by the combined pressure of the ice and cur- 

 rent ; but the following spring showed that the 

 former was level entirely round, and the latter 

 less powerful than might have been expected. 

 I was induced to notice more particularly the 

 formation of this conical island, because the 

 Indians concurred in describing the phenomenon 

 of a smoking rock or mountain in a granitic 

 district, nearly destitute of wood. 



For myself, I must say, that I observed no 

 volcanic appearances along the whole line of our 

 track, and it is not impossible that the Indians 

 were mistaken as to this matter ; for having my- 

 self had occasion to visit a place where one of 

 my crew had fancied he saw a thick column of 

 smoke issuing from a rock near the Ah-hel-dessy, 

 I found that the smoke was nothing more than 

 the spray rising from Parry's Falls. 



A narrow brought us to Musk-ox Lake, about 

 six miles long, surrounded by tolerably steep 

 hills, abounding, as Maufelly said, at certain sea- 

 sons, with those animals ; and now having ar- 

 rived at the commencement of a series of rapids, 

 which the canoe was too weak to run, and 

 too ricketty to be carried over, I had no choice 

 but to stop, and rest satisfied with what had 

 been achieved ; which, if not equal to my hopes, 

 was still sufficient to cheer my companions, and 



