SOURCE OP ST. Peter's river. 113 



As we approached the south-east extremity of the lake, 

 an arm of considerable extent, running in a southerly di- 

 rection, appeared on our right ; it is through this that the 

 connection with Red river, by means of Reed-grass river, 

 is made. 



From the observations made on Red-rock and the Sand- 

 bar islands, it appears that the 49th parallel of latitude passes 

 through this traverse. Among the animals seen by Mr. 

 Say, were two kinds of gulls, one of which was probably 

 the Herring-gull, Larus argenteus, young; also a num- 

 ber of pelicans, and a few ducks ; swans, it is said, do not 

 exist on this lake; the Testudo geographica was also seen, 

 as well as a soft-shelled turtle, of which the species could 

 not be determined, the lower shell alone being visible. 

 Catesby's spotted frog was found to be abundant as far as 

 we travelled. 



We saw on the Lake of the Woods but few Indians, 

 probably not more than twenty altogether, this being the 

 season when they are dispersed. On one of the islands we 

 observed a recent grave, over which a pole was supported 

 by means of stones ; it was bared of its bark, and rings of 

 red paint had been described upon it ; its top was bushy 

 and a wooden spoon was suspended from it. 



We entered Rainy-lake river on the morning of the 28th 

 of August, and reached its head early on the 31st. The 

 length of this stream is about one hundred miles. Its breadth 

 at its mouth is about four hundred yards; it becomes nar- 

 rower above ; its average breadth is three hundred yards ; 

 its current is rapid and uniform ; there are very few ob- 

 structions to the navigation, there being but two places at 

 which canoes are lightened and towed up. The longest of 

 these is about one mile. 



At its mouth the banks of this stream are low and marshy : 



