120 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
before we again embarked. On passing we came to a small Lake on 
which we embarked and at 4 past 8 encamped on the opposite Side. It 
was a beautiful Lake but I could not learn the Name.* An Instance 
of the fine manly character of the Canadian Voyageur, a Power of under- 
going Hardships under the most severe Privations occurred to-day. By 
an Omission at Fort William no Provisions were put in the Canoe for 
them and they had actually, in this Country of Portages and difficult 
Marching, had nothing to subsist on but hard Indian Corn, which they 
had not had the time to boil and thus going through Labor which, 
without seeing it, it could not be imagined the human Frame could 
support. Not a Word of Discontent was uttered but they continued 
polite, obliging, singing their animating lively Songs to the last. We 
had fortunately Plenty of Provisions with us for Ourselves. 
Monday the 23rd July. At ? we embarked. At 5 we were obliged 
to land to gum, which occupied + an Hour. The hot Weather had ren- 
dered the Gum too soft. At ? we debarked to Breakfast and found our- 
selves on a small River called the Dog River. At 4 past 8 we embarked 
having paddled about 3 Hours in the River. In conducting the Canoes 
into the Interior several Thousand of Miles the Voyageur actually only 
subsists on Indian Corn without Spirits, and with no Liquor but Water. 
(The Camenisteiquia takes its Rise near the Lake Nipigon and 
empties itself into Lake Superior near Fort William. It is very unin- 
teresting, the Banks low except a high Mountain of the same character 
as the Tonnerre near Fort William. The River is narrow never exceed- 
ing 40 or 50 Yards, the Banks low, winding; stunted Trees Willow, 
Ash, Birch, high Grass, Goose Grass.?) 
We found the Dog River full of wild Pigeons, so tame that our 
Approach never alarmed them, also a great Quantity of Wild Geese, 
Ducks and Loons. The Channel of this River is not more than 20 or 30 
Paces and this is rendered more narrow and difficult by the Quantity of 
Trees which had been thrown down by the Beaver and cut through as if 
by a Knife. We saw at every Moment the Holes of the Musk Rat. A 
beautiful stone Plover was constantly with us and added much to our 
Delight. At + past 1 we landed to Dinner on the Banks. Long high 
Grass, but much annoyed by Musquitoes. After embarking and pad- 
dling half an hour we came to the Décharge de Rive de Chien about 50 
Paces. After emerging out of a Swamp we alighted on a high Rock 
covered with Mud and Dirt. At a quarter past three we arrived at the 

1 Dog Lake. 
2 This must be prêle (Æquisetum telmateia) I suppose. See Henry (Coues), 
p. 667, note. 
