98 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
Climate and Privation of Food and Comfort, living often months 
together on Fish and literally nothing else, no Salt or Bread, and the 
only Variety is between boiled and broiled. The Lac des Chats is about 
four miles broad, the Banks uninteresting, chiefly the black Pine. We 
passed here Mr. Macdonald, who was going to the Timmiskamain* Lake 
with the heavy Canoes. The Lac des Chats is about 18 miles in Length. 
When we came to the Décharge of the Calumets we passed an Indian 
Fncampment. The Indian gave us the customary Sign, a Whoop and 
firing a Gun, that he wished to speak to us. We accordingly went to 
him when he laughed and said he had nothing to say. Here we ran 
about 18 miles when we came to the Portage Defort* where we encamped 
at the Portage. Defort, our Encampment, was very picturesque. It 
was a beautiful moonlight Night; before us a violent Rapid with the 
Foam, Spray and loud Noise, several small Islands differently tinged, 
our little Tent with Lights, before it an immense Fire with the Kettle 
for the next Day’s Dinner, our fine Fellows lying about in their Blankets. 
Saturday the 16th [June]. At 3 o’clock we found ourselves in the 
Canoe. On starting one of those unpleasant Accidents occurred which 
render Canoe travelling so dangerous. Just on starting our Canoe ran 
against a Rock. The grating Sensation is really very much like, and 
can only be compared to, your Feeling when under the Hands of an 
unskilful Dentist. We found we were not making water which is the 
certain Criterion that the Bottom was not hurt. On such an Accident 
occurring every body remains quiet, confusion would upset the Canoe. 
If the Canoe makes Water every Nerve is strained to paddle to the Shore. 
If she fills then it becomes “ Sauve qui peut,’ but the wisest way is to 
stick to the Canoe which never quite sinks. 
After running up a Current for two miles, passing the Décharge 
des Sables we came to the Mountain Portage which is about a quarter 
of a mile and is over a high rocky Mountain. Again embarking we had 
two miles of Current when we came to the Décharge Derigé.*? To the 
Portage of the Grand Calumet we had again also two miles of strong 
Current. This is the longest Portage in the River being about one and 
a half miles over a rugged steep mountain, but the view romantic and 
picturesque. We here examined our Canoe and found she had sustained 
considerable injury; a part of the outside Bark was torn off. It became 
necessary to sheath the bottom with new Bark and to gum the Seams. 
This occupied two Hours. On passing the Mountain we observed a Cross 
1 Temiscamang. 
2 Called by Mackenzie Dufort. Voyages from Montreal, etc., by Alex. Mackenzie. 
London, 1801, p. xxxii. Quoted hereafter as Mackenzie (1801). 
3In some maps, Darge. Mackenzie (1801) as in text, p. xxxii. 
