124 PERPLEXITY OF THE GUIDE. 



We then paddled among islands extending to 

 a great distance, with an uninterrupted horizon 

 to the westward. It was evident that Maufelly 

 was puzzled; for though he knew the general 

 direction, he was so little acquainted with the 

 form of the lake, that we constantly found our- 

 selves either in a bay, or pulling round an island. 

 Not liking to be baffled in this way, I landed, and 

 sent De Charloit and the Indian to reconnoitre ; 

 and the result was, that they descried a lake in 

 the line of our intended course. The mosquitos 

 here tormented us dreadfully ; and the steersman, 

 for whom they had a particular affection, was so 

 swollen that he could scarcely see. 



At daybreak of the following day (the 22d of 

 August) we went to an adjoining bay, whence 

 the canoe and baggage were carried to two small 

 lakes. Another portage took us to an extensive 

 sheet of water, which, however, proved to be 

 only a branch of the lake we had left. In 

 this, as in the other part, were many islands, 

 composed of low rocks with shelving sides, 

 covered more or less with reindeer-moss and 

 large stones. Streaks of old ice were still ad- 

 hering to the shore ; and on some of the hills, al- 

 ready of a brown tint, were patches of last year's 

 snow. A few hours brought us to the end of 

 the lake (which has been called after the Rev. 

 Dr. Walmsley of Han well) ; and scouts were 



