340 THE GREAT NORTH-WEST 



recognised by the few men who visit or pass them, and 

 some bearing a different name from every canoe-crew 

 which glides by. Most of them are rocky, many rising 

 in abrupt cliffs sheer from the water, and the action of 

 the waves is very perceptible on some of them. They 

 are gradually disappearing, though often there is five 

 or six hundred feet of water ten or twelve yards from the 

 shore. On several of these islands I found great caves 

 into which it was possible to paddle the canoe, though 

 this was sometimes dangerous, as the waves came in 

 with a rather strong wash, causing strange and mournful 

 sounds, which are a source of superstitious terror to the 

 Indians. There were also rocks just awash, or looming 

 close up to the surface, and these had to be carefully 

 watched for, as the canoe is a craft which is soon upset 

 or pierced by a sharp projection. In some of the caves, 

 however, I found, on heaving the lead, more than four 

 hundred feet of water. Most of the islands had trees 

 upon them, some being quite covered with forest growth. 

 Rocks of only a few square yards surface would yet 

 support a tree or two. 



Other of the islands were perforated by the action of 

 the waves, forming natural arches such as are found on 

 most rocky coasts, and all these islands, if inaccessible, 

 and especially those with caves, were frequented by the 

 gulls for the purposes of breeding. Some of the rocks 

 were white, as if covered with snow, from the dung of 

 the multitude of birds which frequented them. There 

 were also purple martins breeding in the caves, their 

 nests being far out of reach, and only just discernible in 

 the faint light which reached the interior. 



In order to check my account of this important lake 

 and make it as correct as possible (though it is to be 

 understood that throughout the book, as in this parti- 

 cular place, I state no fact at second hand, and it is 

 my own observations, or actual gleanings only that are 

 recorded), I have been looking up the remarks of other 



