[Garry ] DIARY OF NICHOLAS GARRY 121 
Portage de Jourdin 60 Paces, made Road but in a bad State. After a 
quarter of an hour paddling we left the main Branch of the Dog River 
having been in this Stream ten hours and found ourselves in a small 
Channel just large enough to admit our Canoes and with such high 
Reeds that we could scarcely see the Sky. We continued in this Chan- 
nel one hour and the Distance may be two miles. We then came to a 
small Lake, 600 Yards, covered with Water Lilies yellow and white, the 
latter very beautiful and large. We then entered another small stream 
of the same character as the last but covered with Water Lilies. This 
Channel was about 500 Yards, when we came to another Lake 700 
Yards; then to another Chanmel covered with Reeds when we came to 
one of those Mud Ponds mentioned by Mackenzie where the Bottom 
has an attractive Power and the Canoe is with Difficulty pressed forward. 
The Attraction was sensibly felt. The Bottom is black Mud. It is 
called Cold Lake from the remarkable Coldness of the Water. At the 
End we came to the Portage of Cold Lake! 60 Paces a few rotten Sticks 
and Trees forming this Portage. We then paddled through a narrow 
Stream remarkable for its Clearness and great Cold when we came to 
the Portage of La Prairie. From a Spring near the Place of Landing 
is the Source of the Dog River. This Portage is remarkable leading 
over the Heighth of Land which divides Canada from Ruperts Land 
or the Hudson’s Bay Territory. This Portage may be one and a half 
Miles, and after ascending the Hill which may be 300 Feet you pass a 
Valley, then another small Hill terminated by anothed Valley at the 
End of which is a Pond. On the Banks we encamped at 8 o’clock. A 
Chief and his Son joined us at our Supper. He told us he had three 
Wives. He was dressed in a red Coat with blue Facings and gilded Lace. 
Tuesday the 24th of July. At half-past three we embarked, crossed 
a small Lake when we came to the Portage de Milieu’ which is over a 
Swamp. Here the North West [Company] had made a Road, being 3 
Trees placed together. It had been repaired this Year. Passing this 
Portage we came to another Pond which we crossed and in the middle 
met a Brigade of six Canoes with Furs from the Athapascan. Crossing 
this Pond a narrow Channel presented itself on passing which we arrived 
at the Portage de Savanne. This Portage is nearly a Mile in Length 
and through a swampy Wood. Here the North West [Company] have 
made a Road which has been repaired this Year, 8 Men at work. Break- 
fasted at the End at seven and entered the River Savanne, or Swampy 
River. The Entrance is so narrow and so obstructed with Trees and 

1 Portage à l'Eau Froide, S. J. Dawson, Report of Explorations, etc., (Toronto, 
1859) map. Cold Water Lake in Franklin’s map, 2nd Expedition (London, 1828). 
2 Middle Portage, in Dawson, as above. 
