{Garry ] DIARY OF NICHOLAS GARRY 105 
of small Lakes and at 9 encamped on the last Vase! Our Journey 
has been this Day a most fatiguing one for our Men and the most miser- 
able to us Bourgeois (so the Passengers who do not paddle are designated) 
comprehending almost everything, except meeting the beautiful 
Indian, which constitutes Misery in Travelling. We rose in the morn- 
ing unrefreshed and exhausted by the Stings of our relentless Enemies 
which continued to pursue us during the Day. Soon after starting 
we were deluged with Rain and in this State were obliged to sit in our 
Canoe without the Opportunity of changing our Dress and attacked by 
the Musquitoes and the little Sand Fly. In this State we arrived at 
our Encampment, the Name of Vase or Morass gave us little Hope of 
Comfort and Rest. Scarcely had we landed when we were attacked by 
Myriads of Mosquitoes and Flys and Spiders; every Expedient was tried 
to drive them off but all without Effect and our Attempts only produced 
increased Irritation and Misery. 
Wednesday the 20th [June]. At 3 o’clock we started to walk 3 
miles whilst our Canoe was towed thro’ a small narrow Passage. We 
then embarked for a short Distance and landed at another Vase, the 
Musquitoes abounding in this swampy Ground. Here we had a short 
Walk when we found ourselves in a small beautiful Stream of Water 
about 40 yards broad and about 3 miles in Length. The Banks were 
beautiful, on one Side high Grass and on the other the most beautiful 
Forest Trees. At once the Lake Nipissing came to our View and a 
Change from Misery to the greatest Pleasure and Comfort. Not the 
poor Wanderer in the Desert could be more delighted with the Sight of a 
Well after being parched with Thirst than we were on entering the 
Lake. Here we lost the Musquitoes and bathing in the Lake restored 
‘us to Cleanliness and Comfort. At 9 we had breakfasted and started 
again. Lake Nipissingue is about 12 Leagues in Length (though the 
Canoe course is more) and 15 miles broad. At 12, our Course W.S.W., 
we had made the grand Travers and came to a Point called the Isle aux 
Croix, so named from having 11 Crosses on it, the Tombs of 11 Voya- 
geurs who were drowned. We now ran along the South Bank, low 
Land inky with the Pine Tree. There was a considerable Deal of 
Swell and it produced all the Feeling of Sea Sickness. At 4 past one 
we landed on a Rock to Dinner. Found a poisonous Plant which if 
touched produces Swelling of the Hand.* At 4 past two embarked. Our 
Course now is between Islands but barren Rocks and uninteresting. 

1 These morasses or swamps are the sources of the Vazor Vaseriver. ‘The 
portages are well named the Vazor Mud portages.” The Shoreand Canoe, by J. S. 
Bigsby, M.D. (London, 1850), vol. I., p. 164. 
2 Probably Rhus Toxicodendron, L., Poison Ivy, or Rhus venenata, Poison Elder. 
