328 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 
This lake, owing to its great depth, is seldom 
completely frozen over before the last week in 
November; and the ice, which is generally seven 
feet thick, breaks up about the middle of June, 
three weeks later than that of the Slave River. 
The only known outlet to this vast body of water, 
which receives so many streams on its north and 
south shores, is the Mackenzie’s River. . 
August 3.—We embarked at three A. M. and 
proceeded to the entrance of the Yellow-Knife 
River of the traders, which is called by the natives 
Beg-ho-lo-dessy ; or, River of the Toothless Fish. 
We found Akaitcho, and the hunters with their 
families, encamped here. There were also seve- 
ral other Indians of his tribe, who intended to 
accompany us some distance into the interior. 
This party was quickly in motion after our arrival, 
_ and we were soon surrounded by a fleet of seven- 
teen Indian canoes. In company with them we 
paddled up the river, which is one hundred and 
fifty yards wide, and, in an hour, came to a cas- 
cade of five feet, where we were compelled to 
make a portage of one hundred and fifty-eight 
yards. We next crossed a dilatation of the river, 
about six miles in length, upon which the name 
of Lake Prosperous was bestowed. Its shores, 
though scantily supplied with wood, are very pic- 
turesque. 
