SOURCE OF ST. PETEr's RIVER. 83 



On the 19th of August we reached a peninsula, which 

 lies at the mouth of the bay into which Winnepeek river 

 discharges its waters. This peninsula was then under wa- 

 ter, so as to leave exposed merely an island of about four 

 miles long and three broad, usually called Elk Island. In 

 order to avoid passing all round it, it is usual to unload 

 and carry the canoes and their cargo over this peninsula, 

 which forms two small portages of about thirty yards long. 

 Our canoes passed, however, without difficulty, owing to a 

 high wind which, sweeping the surface of the lake from 

 the north-west, had raised the water upon this bar. At 

 this place our canoes were steered nearly east. This was 

 considered the most distant part of our journey. We 

 reached it in one hundred and twelve days, having travel- 

 led over upwards of two thousand and one hundred miles, 

 without any accident, and with biit little difficulty. At this 

 place we left the track usually travelled by the Hudson's 

 Bay Company's canoes, to take that formerly followed by 

 those of the North-west Company. The brigade that car- 

 ries the furs from Fort Douglas to York Factory, the an- 

 cient Fort Bourbon of the French, passes to the west of 

 Elk island. It performs its voyage in about fifteen or 

 twenty days. On its return, the voyage requires from 

 thirty to thirty-five days, on account of the length of time 

 consumed in ascending the streams. It is usual for the 

 Company's ships to leave England together, with supplies 

 of goods ; they generally sail about the last of June, arrive 

 at York Factory about the middle of August, and retura 

 to England with the furs brought down in the spring. 

 The brigade does not wait their arrival, but carries and 

 distributes at all the posts, the goods imported the pre- 

 ceding year, so that there is always one year's supply in 

 advance at York Factorv. 



