58 ACROSS THE SUB-ARCTICS OF CANADA. 



being shrewd, intelligent fellows. From one old hunter 

 in particular, named Sharlo, we obtained interesting 

 sketch-maps of canoe routes leading northward from 

 Lake Athabasca. Of course tea and tobacco had been 

 served out before such information was sought, for no 

 man of any experience would think of approaching an 

 Indian for the purpose of obtaining a favor without first 

 having conferred one. Our object accomplished, canoes 

 were again launched, and the struggle with the east 

 wind was renewed. Though we travelled until 10.30 at 

 night we made only 16.4 knots during the day, as indi- 

 cated by the boat's log ; and then in the mouth of the 

 Fishing River we found a sheltered nook in the thick 

 woods for a camping-ground. 



The next day, the high wind continuing and rain 

 falling freely, the lake was too rough for us to venture 

 out. A collection of all the many varieties of plants 

 occurring in the vicinity was carefully made. Nets 

 were set out, and some fine fish taken ; trolls were also 

 used with fair success, and with my revolver, much to 

 the amusement of the party, I shot and killed some 

 distance under water a fine large pike. A few geese 

 were seen also, but none could be secured. 



On the following morning, though it was still raining, 

 the wind had fallen, and we were able to go ahead. 

 Because of the wet we had great difficulty in using our 

 surveying instruments and in making notes. During 

 the forenoon while ashore at Cypress Point, a long 

 sand-beach timbered with jack-pine woods, and extend- 

 ing a mile or more out into the lake, we observed a sail 

 not far ahead. A sail-boat in these waters was an un- 

 usual sight, but on this occasion we were able to guess 



