120 MR. RAE'S EXPEDITION. June, 



ours throughout its whole length, which is little more than 

 15 miles, including its various curves. On the 17th we 

 passed over the ice on the lake from which the stream 

 flows. It contains many islands, and its breadth, where 

 we crossed it in a nearly south direction, is 3 J miles. 



"Indian report had led me to believe that there was a 

 creek, having sufficient depth of water for the boat, flowing 

 from this lake into the south branch of the Kendall, which 

 we were to descend to the Dismal Lakes ; but in this we 

 were disappointed, and consequently had a portage of six 

 geographical miles to make overland nearly due east. I 

 had examined this place in the winter, but the ground 

 being then covered with snow and ice, I could not form a 

 correct opinion on the subject. The west end of the 

 portage is situate in latitude 67° 10' 48" N. ; longitude by 

 account* 117° 18' W. ; and the variation of the compass 

 50° 49' E. 



" Crossing the portage occupied us two days ; the ice 

 had not yet broken up in many places on the river on its 

 east side, and the water was 10 inches lower than when 

 Sir John Richardson and party forded it last autumn ; we 

 consequently found some difficulty in descending it. Its 

 general course is north-east by east, and length from where 

 we entered it, to its influx at the west end of the most 

 easterly of the Dismal Lakes, 17^ miles. On the 21st 

 we arrived at the station on the banks of the Kendall 

 River, to which provisions for the sea voyage had been 

 hauled on dog sleds in April, and found the two men who 

 had been left in charge quite well. We descended the 

 Kendall next day to the Coppermine, which was still 

 covered with ice, so firm and solid that a person might 



* The rates of the chronometers had become so irregular, or 

 had altered so much, that they were of no use until rated anew. 



