104 . EXPEDITION TO THE 



ing conclusions. 1. That the whole of the country be- 

 tween Lake Superior and Lake Winnepeek was formerly- 

 covered with water to a much greater height than it is at 

 present. 2. That this inland sea was bounded by barriers 

 which were broken, at a time probably posterior to the 

 deposition of the secondary limestone of Ohio •, wherefore 

 the fragments, which result from this great convulsion of 

 nature, are found resting upon those secondary formations. 



3. That this process of draining was carried on at first, 

 partly, at least, through the valley of the Mississippi. 



4. That it is not improbable that this draining is still con- 

 tinued. 5. That if this be the case, it is partially through 

 the valley of the Mississippi, but chiefly through Nelson's 

 river. 



Most of the streams which are mentioned by the guides 

 as rivers emptying into the Winnepeek, are upon closer 

 inquiry found to be mere branches of the same river that 

 divide off at distances of twenty or thirty miles, and which 

 again unite with the main stream, or, as we would deem 

 it more probable, they are parts of the general system of 

 lakes which cover the whole country. One of these 

 branches is termed the English river, because it has been 

 ascended by the Hudson's Bay Company's traders to its 

 sources, which interlock with those of Albany river; it 

 offers a direct communication between Lake Winnepeek 

 and Albany Factory, of James' Bay. 



On the 24th, we passed two portages and three lighten- 

 ing places. Our canoe-men experienced great satisfac- 

 tion at the sight of a canoe, which passed us in the mid- 

 dle of the day, from Montreal. There was on board a 

 gentleman, bearer of despatches, who had left London on 

 the 23d of May, having passed in the space of three 

 months from the extreme of civilisation and population to 



