134 EXPEDITION TO THE 



stone. Near to the dividing ridge, many of the portagea 

 were extremely swampy. 



Although the country is hilly near the summit level, yet 

 the highest ground, between the waters of the Winnepeek 

 and St. Lawrence, is not more than one hundred and fifty 

 feet above the level of the two lakes in which these waters 

 are supposed to take their source. We are induced to consi- 

 der the country as inclining towards Lake Superior, from 

 which circumstance the water at the north-east extremity of 

 the Portage, is less elevated than that at its south-west 

 end. The length of the portage is but very little more than 

 two and a half miles. We had been told that there is a 

 water communication at this place between the two streams, 

 but we believe that this is not the case. The highest wa- 

 ter of the St. Lawrence, which we saw, was in a small 

 pool called Cold Water Lake. This is a basin which is 

 only one hundred and fifty yards long and about twenty 

 wide. Its name is very appropriate, the temperature of its 

 water being; much lower than that of the surroundins; lakes 

 and streams. It is supplied by a spring issuing from the 

 side of the hill, and which is not more than two hundred 

 yards from the lake. This is one of the finest springs we 

 have ever seen; its temperature, which was only 41° of 

 Fahrenheit's thermometer, is lower than that of any spring 

 which we have examined. The temperature of the lake is 

 about 42°. That of the atmosphere at the time we made 

 the observation was 63°. We saw no rocks in place about 

 the spring, but entertain no doubt that the whole country 

 is granitic. 



We reached Cold Water Lake on the morning of the 

 10th of September, and commenced our journey down the 

 streams which fall into Lake Superior, near Fort William, 



