OF THE POLAR SEA. 291 
Indians, and a shorter passage might be found by 
It across the height of land to Clear Water River, 
than the portage from the Methye Lake. 
In Buffalo Lake, the wind was too strong for 
us to proceed, and we therefore encamped upon a 
gravel beach thrown up by the waves. We 
embarked at three A.M. July 2d, and at four 
P.M. entered the mouth of the Methye River. 
The lake is thirty-four miles in length, and four- 
teen in breadth. It is probably very deep, for 
we saw no islands in this wide expanse, except 
at the borders. On the south-west side were two 
forts, belonging to the Companies, and near 
them a solitary hill seven or eight hundred feet 
high. At eight P.M. we encamped in the Meythe 
River, at the confluence of the river Pembina. A 
route has been explored by it 'to the Red Willow 
River, across the height of land, but the difficul- 
ties of it were so great, that the ordinary route is 
preferred. e 
On the 3d we passed through the Methye 
River, and encamped on the borders of the 
Methye Lake. ‘The soil from Isle 4 la Crosse 
to this place is sandy, with some portion of clay, 
miles. The paths were overflowed with cold 
U2 
