202 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 
fect huts, which had been hastily built after the 
commencement of the last winter. We here saw 
two hunters who where Chipewyan _half-breeds, 
and made many inquiries of them respecting the 
countries we expected to visit, but we found 
_ them quite ignorant of every part beyond the 
thabasca Lake. They spoke of Mr. Heame 
and of his companion Matonnabee, but did not 
add to our stock of information respecting that 
journey. It had happened before their birth, 
but they remembered the expedition of Sir Alex- 
ander Mackenzie towards the sea. 
This is a picturesque lake, about ten miles 
long and six broad, and receives its name from 
a species of fish caught in it. ‘This fish, the 
methye, is not much esteemed ; the residents 
never eat any part but the liver except through 
necessity, the dogs dislike even that. ‘The titta- 
meg and trout are also caught in the fall of the 
year. The position of the houses by our obsef- 
vations is latitude 56° 24° 99” N., longitude _ 
109° 23' 06” W., variation 22? 50): 28" Bo» a 
“On the 13th we renewed our journey and 
parted! from Mr: Clark, io whom-we were mad 
obliged for his hospitality and kindness. We 
Soon reached the Methye Portage, and had @ 
very pleasant ride acrogs it in our carioles. The 
‘rack was good and led through groups of pines, 
