CHIPPEWYAN TO BLACK LAKE. 57 



rocky, and consisting chiefly of Laurentian gneiss, is of 

 little geological interest except at a few points, which 

 will be spoken of as they are reached. The south shore, 

 which was examined by my brother in 1892, was found 

 to be of entirely different character, low and flat, and 

 its rocks cretaceous sandstones. The chief varieties of 

 timber observed as we passed along were spruce, white 

 poplar and birch, and with these, though of small size, 

 the country was fairly well covered. 



Our second day on the lake was even less successful 

 than the first, for though we made a start in the morn- 

 ing, we were soon obliged to put to shore by reason of 

 the roughness of the water and a strong head- wind. At 

 noon we succeeded in getting our latitude, which was 

 59 % 32" N. 



About six o'clock that evening, shortly after our 

 nd launch, we met a party of Indians in their bark 

 oes, sailing with hoisted blankets before the wind. 

 There were quite a number of them, and as they bore 

 down towards us they presented a picturesque and 

 animated scene. Moberly was some distance in the rear, 

 but Francois was on hand to interpret, and as we met a 

 halt was made. The first and most natural question 

 asked by the Indians was, " Where are you going ? " 

 "To h ," was Francois' prompt but rather startling 

 reply. In order that we might have an opportunity of 

 securing information about the country (not that to 

 which Fran9ois had alluded, however), it was decided 

 that we should all go ashore and have some tea; so 

 our course was shaped for the nearest beach, a mile or 

 so away. Upon landing we found that some of these 

 Indians were men of whom Dr. McKay had spoken as 



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