ITINERARY. 407 



rapid where it was necessary to unload the boats, 

 and make a portage of nearly half a mile in length. 

 After this came the Bonne, of which the portage is 

 quite a mile long, but here were encamped numerous 

 Indians with horses, and the men were spared the 

 labom* of " carrying." Next morning the Bigstone 

 and Pine Rapids were successively passed with slight 

 delay, and we reached the Terre Blanche in the 

 afternoon ; this was a succession of short steep falls, 

 and both goods and boats had to be transported across 

 the Portage. 



On the 26th we arrived at Methy Portage, and 

 had now no longer to ascend, but would henceforth 

 continually go down cmTent, unless in lakes, to the 

 sea. This portage is across a height of land, and as 

 it is nine or ten miles long, the goods only are 

 transported on horseback, boats being stationed at 

 either end, and exchanging their cargoes. 



We commenced our descent towards York Factory 

 on the 30th, poled out of the tiny meandering Loche, 

 entered the Methy Lake, and thence passed into the 

 river of the same name — a very narrow and shallow 

 stream. Buffalo Lake was traversed on the 31st, 

 and the 1st of August carried us into Deep River, 

 and Isle a la Crosse Lake ; the fort of this name was 

 reached in the afternoon. Athabasca Lake has a 



