194 EXPEDITION TO THE 



berries which we have ever seen ; they were highly fla- 

 voured and very abundant, even more so than those in the 

 vicinity of the Falls of Kakabikka. Other berries also grew 

 abundantly. 



Notwithstanding our desire to get under weigh, we were 

 compelled by stress of weather to remain at Michipicotton 

 one day, during which time we experienced a heavy south- 

 westerly gale accompanied by rain, hail, snow, and sleet. 

 The next morning, the wind having apparently abated a 

 little, we resumed our journey, but as soon as we left the 

 river and entered the lake, we found ourselves exposed to 

 a storm so violent that we were obliged again to resort to 

 land. We had travelled but about five miles during near 

 three hours of hard rowing. With considerable difficulty 

 we got our boat round a promontory, and hauled it up, on 

 the shore, in a small cove which appeared tolerably safe. 

 On looking back to the various difficulties which we have 

 experienced on the route, we are induced to believe that 

 we were at no period of the journey exposed to so immi- 

 nent a danger as on that morning when we were sailing 

 in a crazy boat, on a very rough sea, near an iron bound 

 coast, in which there were but few harbours. We landed, 

 however, in safety, and lay by till the next morning. 

 With a view to keep ourselves as warm as possible, we 

 used our flies and sail in the manner that the Sioux con- 

 struct their skin lodges, winding them round, in a conical 

 form, upon a frame of light poles, which had been left there 

 by some Indians. In this manner we sheltered ourselves 

 partially against the effects of the snow and wind. 



We had on the west coast of Michipicotton ba)'^ observed 

 slaty rock, of a dark colour, sometimes almost black ; it was 

 well stratified ; the direction of the strata was North 40*^ 

 west, their inclination was vertical. It is found in some 



