1i8 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
Indians amongst about 30 Dancers all men. They were almost naked 
and their Bodies painted in a most fantastical manner; some endeavour- 
ing to represent wild Beasts having on their Heads the Skin of a Wolf, 
Fox or Bear. One Man was entirely naked his Body painted to repre- 
sent Leather. Their Faces were painted with Vermilion with black 
Stripes. They danced to the beating of a Drum which was performed 
by the Chief’s Old Men. It was a dreadfully hot day and they appeared 
quite exhausted by Fatigue, the Dance requiring great Exertion, being 
entirely muscular or rather an Exertion on the Muscles, throwing them- 
selves on their Hams, then raising the Shoulder, then on one Leg. They 
danced about an Hour and retired. 
Monday the 9th [July]. Went to Point Meuron about 11 miles 
distant. This was the first Hudson’s Bay Post I have visited, but it 
being now useless I gave Directions to abandon it. 
Tuesday the 10th July [to] Saturday the 14th [July]. Discussions 
without end. 
Sunday the 15th [July]. Mr. James Leith went off for the Atha- 
pascan. 
[From Monday the 16th to Friday the 20th no entry. | 
Saturday the 21st [July]. Left Fort William and never in my Life 
have I left a Place with less Regret. Mr. William McGillivray accom- 
panied us as far as the Mountain Portage. We now travel in two Canoes 
Mr. Bird accompanying me and Mr. McRobb a Clerk of the North West 
Company and Mr. McGillivray. Our Canoes are much smaller than the 
Montreal Canoe and are called the “ North Canoes ” which Designation 
“ North Men” is given to the Men who from long Experience and being 
more inured to the Changes of Climate and Fatigue and Privations are 
more hardy. Our Canoe is about 25 Feet in Length by about 44 Feet 
in Breadth and weighing about 24 cwt. We started about 10 and at 12 
o’clock passed Point Meuron a Post built by Lord Selkirk for the Hud- 
son Bay Company. The River on which we now are is called the Kam- 
inistiquia or River of Islands! It is from + to a + of a Mile in Breadth, 
the Shores are low and uninteresting except a very fine Mountain near 
Fort William of the same Character and Boldness as the Tonnerre. At 
3 o’clock we came to the Décharge de Paresseux 150 Paces. At 8 
o’clock we encamped [at a spot] on the Banks of the River called Greem 
Island. 
Sunday the 22nd [July]. At 3 o’clock we embarked and at 4 past 
5 we arrived at the Mountain Portage which is 1800 Paces. Break- 


1 With this account of the journey to Lake Winnipeg compare the list of Por- 
tages and Décharges in Appendix [B]. 
