SOURCE OP ST. Peter's river. 193 



vered with snow affords an easy mode of travelling to 

 those who are accustomed to the use of snow-shoes. On 

 these, travellers have frequently walked from Michipicot- 

 ton to Hudson's Bay in twenty-one days ; they usually 

 drag after them a small train or sledge, in which their pro- 

 visions are packed ; they travel in this manner from forty 

 to fifty miles per day ; it is said, that they have even walk- 

 ed seventy-five miles, but as these are estimated, and not 

 measured, miles, it is probable that the distances were over- 

 rated. The degree of cold experienced at Michipicotton 

 is very great ; the winter before our visit to the fort, an 

 alcoholic thermometer fell to - 35° (F.) It has been often 

 known to descend to -37°, and it was not ascertained that 

 this was the maximum of cold. From these circumstances 

 potatoes and turnips are the only produce raised near the fort. 

 This place is acquiring more importance, being much 

 resorted to by canoes going to Moose Factory. The di- 

 viding ridge between the waters of Hudson's Bay and those 

 of Lake Superior, if indeed the term dividing ridge can be 

 applied to such a country, is said to be about thirty miles 

 north of the lake. Every river in this part of the country ^ 

 presents more or less beautiful cascades. There is a very 

 handsome one about two miles above the fort on a small 

 ijranch of the Michipicotton ; and one at a greater distance 

 is represented as being very beautiful ; we saw the cloud 

 arising above it, and from its size suppose the cataract to be 

 very great. Mr. Mac Intosh showed us very fine foliated 

 and transparent gypsum which came from Moose river, 

 where he represents it as being very abundant. From his 

 description it would appear that the country on Moose 

 river is of a different nature from that on Lake Superior : 

 he did not represent it, however, as being a prairie coun- 

 ti'v. A walk up the river offered us the largest whortle-. 



