144 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
a small narrow Channel called Grassy Point about a Mile in Length. 
The Crossing of Lakes in Canoes is attended with considerable Danger, 
particularly on Lake Winnipic where the Traverses from Point to Point 
are of great Distance, unsheltered and exposed to all the Force of the 
Winds and sudden Squalls. The Canoe being steered by a Paddle and 
without Rudder, the Paddle narrow and of little Power, the Steersman 
has the Canoe little under his Command. The Swells are sudden and 
the more dangerous from their being short and broken. After sailing 
an Hour we came abreast of three Islands of Rocks. At 12 o’clock we 
had made the Traverse and crossed in the narrowest Part of the Lake 
from the West to the East Coast, the Breadth about four Miles. We now 
passed the Duke’s Straits. At half-past one we were in the Narrows 
where you see both Sides of the Lake, to the North West the Dogs Head. 
The Coast is now rocky, rather higher (perhaps 30 Feet) and covered 
with Pine. The Canoe Voyage from the Colony to Norway House is 
320 Miles. The Wind increasing very much our Situation became dan- 
gerous and we were forced to hurry on Shore which we did in a small 
Bay formed by Rocks on the East Side. At 5 we embarked again and 
at 6 had passed the Point which is called the Dogs Head at the West 
Side of the Lake opposite to the Embouchure of the Blood River on the 
East. The Wind now began to blow with increased Violence and soon 
produced so high a Sea that is wonderful how our frail Bark could 
withstand the Waves, and indeed it was only by a Miracle and gracious 
Providence that we escaped. At one Moment the Bows were actually 
under Water and remained in this State for nearly half a Minute, the 
Waves running in from both Sides and in such Quantities as to threaten 
our Destruction. Our Foreman placed his Arms on the Bows, but the 
Water rushed over them. The Canoe happily righted and we thus 
escaped a Watery Grave, for such would inevitably have been our Fate, 
being far from the Land and the other Canoe at a great Distance from 
us. We had still about five Miles to run before we could make a point 
where there was a Harbour. At 8 we made it but found Mr. McGilli- 
vray’s Canoe still standing out and endeavouring to cross another Tra- 
verse of about 12 Miles. His Canoe having been built to transport 
Goods was more fitted to withstand the Waves, whilst mine was slenderly 
built and little fitted to contend with the high sea. Temerity and 
Courage are of a different Character. The first is generally founded on 
Vanity. No man has the Right to endanger the Lives of others though 
he may Sport with his own. Little regarding the other Canoe and 
attending to the Representations of our Guide we landed and soon saw 
the other Canoe standing in ; and happy for their Safety it was they 
