308 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 
men whom we had left behind, but this was now 
of little importance, as the acquisition of meat 
we had made would enable us to proceed without 
more delay to Slave Lake. The poisson  inconnu 
mentioned by Mackenzie, is found here. Itisa 
species of the Genus Salmo, and is said by the 
Indians to ascend from the Arctic Sea, but being 
unable to pass the cascade of the Slave River, is 
not found higher than this place. In the evening 
a violent thunder-storm came on with heavy rain ; 
thermometer 70°. 
At a very early hour on the following morning 
we embarked, and continued to paddle against a 
very strong wind and high waves, under the 
shelter of the bank of the rivers, until two P. M., 
when having arrived at a more exposed part of 
the stream, the canoes took in so much water 
that we were obliged to disembark on a small 
island. The river here is from one mile anda 
quarter to one mile and three quarters wide. Its 
banks are of moderate height, sandy, and well 
wooded. 
July 24.—We made: more progress notwith- 
standing the continuance of the wind: The course 
of the river is very winding, making in one place 
‘a circuit of seven or eight miles round a penin- 
= which is joined to the west bank by 2 
ears nai Near the foot of this elbow, a 
