92 ACROSS THE SUB-ARCTICS OF CANADA. 



and cold since leaving the woods, became decidedly 

 colder. Toward the north end of the lake we passed 

 great piles of rafted ice on the shore. Such conditions 

 during the month of August were highly suggestive of 

 the character of climate which must exist here in the 

 winter season. 



Near the outlet of Markham Lake was found an ex- 

 ceptionally interesting little island. For weeks we had 

 seen nothing but Laurentian or Huronian hills, but here 

 was a solitary out-lier of white Cambrio-Silurian lime- 

 stone. The size of the island was perhaps not more 

 than ten acres, but its whole composition was quite 

 different from anything in the district, and growing on 

 it were found many entirely new varieties of plants. 

 Several hours were spent here with fruitful results, and 

 then as the shadows of evening were stealing from the 

 rocky hills far across the lonely plains, we discovered, 

 at the north end of the lake, our river, upon the bare 

 high rocky bank of which we pitched camp. 



It is worthy of note that at this point some very old 

 moss-grown "tepee" poles and fragments of birch bark 

 were found, indicating clearly that in days gone, by the 

 spot had been visited by Indians, though it was now 

 known to them only in legends. We had seen no recent 

 traces of Indians since entering the Telzoa, but at some 

 time they had descended thus far, and had camped on the 

 same bald hill which we now occupied. There was more 

 than sentiment to us in the fact, for from the old rotten 

 poles, few arid small though they were, we built a fire 

 that gave us not a little comfort and cheer. 



On the 5th of August, after partaking of a hurried 

 breakfast of venison of which, by the way, our supplies 



