124 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
Rice. The latter plant is not unlike the Oat in Appearance.  Travers- 
ing this small Water we arrived at the Sturgeon Lake which we crossed 
by half past six. It is narrow and uninteresting. At 8 o’clock we came 
to the Portage of Grosse Roche which is 400 Paces and a bad Road. 
Here we encamped. 
Thursday the 26th [July]. Having a Rapid to pass we did not 
embark till 4 past 3. At 5 we came to the Portage de l’Islet 40 Paces 
over a Rock after passing which we found ourselves on the Sturgeon 
River or River Maligne the first the Indian Name the Jatter the French. 
At 6 we arrived at the Portage de l’Islet. Here we breakfasted and 
embarked at 7. There is a fine Waterfall here and the Rocks are covered 
with the Hurtleberry,? Raspberries, and a beautiful Plant covered with 
a very nice Berry called by the French “Poire” and by the Indians 
“ Ne-sas-quit-too-men-at-tuk.”? At 1 past seven we arrived at the Lake 
La Croix. A few Savages came out in their Canoes. At 4 past eleven 
we arrived at the first Portage of La Croix which is about 250 Paces over 
a Rock covered with Trees. A beautiful Oak on the Banks of the Water 
brought to my mind England and all 1 love, all my Friends and Com- 
panions. The Sight of Oak never fails to produce this Effect and has 
the same Influence om the Feelings which the meeting with a Country- 
man in a distant Clime has on the Spirits. After passing this we came 
into a small Channel, covered with Water Lilies, which opening into a 
broad Channel terminated in a Lake. Passed an Indian Encampment. 
After paddling 4 miles on this Lake we arrived at the second Portage of 
Lake La Croix which is 400 Paces when we entered into a narrow Chan- 
nel covered with Rocks and short Grass and beautiful willows. At half 
past one we arrived at the third Portage where we dined! close to a 
Waterfall. At 4 past two we entered a narrow Stream, passing between 
Banks of high Grass, Water Lilies, Willows, Ash, Aspen, Elm and occa- 
sionally, an Oak peeping between them to show its Superiority over every 
other Tree. We continued in this Inlet an Hour when we came into a 
Lake which we traversed in an Hour and a half when the Channel again 
narrowed. The Heat is intense. We continued in this Channel until 
we came to Vermilluse Lake.* At six we had traversed this Lake and 
arrived at a narrow Channel between Rocks not of great Height but wild 

1 Zizania aquatica. 
2 Vaccinium myrtillus (2). 
3 Amelanchier canadensis, wood used for arrows, the berries for pemmican and 
puddings. Richardson says the word is called by the Crees mee-sassquat-ahtic, 
and the berries meesass-cootoom-meena. The word in the text appears to be a com- 
bination of both these forms. 
4Vermillion Lake. 
