[Garry] DIARY OF NICHOLAS GARRY 125 
and rugged and of red Appearance or Vermillion. This Channel of 
about a quarter of a Mile brought us to the Lake Nimicarpan’ which we 
traversed in an Hour and a half and arrived at the Portage Neuf which 
is 400 Paces when we arrived at a small Channel of the same character 
as the last, beautiful white Water Lilies, high Grass, Underwood and 
wild Rice? growing in the Water. After 10 Minutes paddling we came 
to the second Portage Neuf which is about 300 Paces. Aïter passing 
this we again found ourselves in the same Description of Channel which 
ended in a Swamp covered with wild Rice. The Annoyance of the 
Musquitoes was dreadful from which we suffered for nearly an Hour, the 
Distance of the Swamp being about two miles, the Course tedious and 
difficult. At 9 we encamped on a Rock in Rainy Lake. 
Friday the 27th [July]. At six passed two loaded Canoes contain- 
ing Provisions for Captain Franklin commanding the overland Expedi- 
tion for the Discovery of the North West Passage. At seven landed to 
Breakfast on a Point called the Detroit about five Hours paddling from 
the Fort of Rainy Lake. A Party of Indians, Sauteux, landed during 
our Breakfast. They were a dirty looking People. Started at eight 
and landed at half-past twelve at a Point at the Bottom of the Lake 
where we dined. Rainy Lake is very uninteresting, low Banks and 
stunted Fir Trees. Indeed, all the Lakes we have passed since we left 
Fort William present little to gratify the Eye. At 2 o’clock we started 
and after running a Rapid we entered the River of Rainy Lake. Here 
the Scene at once changed. The River is here 500 Yards broad and the 
Banks covered with the most luxuriant Verdure and Woods of Oak, 
Maple, Elm. , At a quarter before three we arrived at the Portage de 
Chaudiére which is about 400 Paces and is made to avoid a very fine 
Waterfall. On an Eminence close to the Fall is the Hudson’s Bay Post 
commanding a most beautiful and picturesque Situation. The North 
West Post is about a mile higher up the River. ‘The Post of Lac La 
Pluie or Rainy Lake before the Union of the two Companies was one of 
great Importance. Here the People from Montreal came to meet those 
who arrived from the Athabascan Country and exchange Lading with 
them receiving the Furs and giving the Goods to trade in Return. It 
will now become a mere trading Post as the Athapascans will be sup- 
plied from York Fort. We found here Mr. Leith, Chief of the Atha- 
pascan and Mr. Connolly, Lesser Slave Lake Department. We first 


1Soin text. Meant for Namakan or Namenkan. 
2 Zizania aquatica. For an interesting account of this plant and its distribution 
see Keating’s ed. of Long’s Expedition to St. Peter’s River. (London, 1825), vol. II., 
p. 106. 
