Io6 KXPEDITION TO THE 



it is SO, we draw from it three very interesting conclu- 

 sions. 1st. That there is an interlockage between the wa- 

 ters of Lakes Superior and Winnepeek. 2d. That the wa- 

 ters at the west end of the Prairie Portage are much more 

 elevated than those at the east end, since there is all the 

 difference of level between Dog Lake and the Thousand 

 lakes, which is represented as considerable, and also all that 

 observed in the western waters, from the Thousand lakes 

 up to the west end of Prairie Portage. There being but an 

 inconsiderable rapid between Cold Water Lake and Dog 

 Lake, we may assume the level of the water in both these 

 lakes to be very nearly the same. The third conclusion is 

 drawn from the fact, that a height of land or dividing hill 

 was observed on the route which we travelled, and that it 

 is known to exist on the ftrand Portage route, which con- 

 nects the De la Croix Lake with Lake Superior, some dis- 

 tance south of Fort William ; while in the intermediate 

 route between Dog Lake and the Thousand lakes, no such 

 dividing hill occurs ; whence we observe that this does not 

 constitute a dividing ridge, properly speaking, but merel}* 

 separated and disconnected hills, between which there arc 

 probably water communications. We find a confirmation of 

 this opinion in the fact that an uninterrupted water commu- 

 nication exists likewise between Dog Lake and the English 

 river which we have previously noted as entering Winne- 

 peek river above the Slave Falls. A connection also exists 

 between Dog Lake and Nipegon Lake at the head of Ni- 

 pegon river. From all these facts we are led to the be- 

 lief, that at the place where a dividing ridge is generally 

 indicated upon maps, there are many uninterrupted water 

 communications between the waters of Lakes Superior and 

 Winnepeek, and James' Bay. 



Dog portage receives its name from the figure of a dog 



