104 ACROSS THE SUB-ARCTICS OF CANADA. 



to be the Telzoa flowing out of the lake, and after a 

 long and late pull we were gratified to find our hopes 

 realized. On account of the lateness of the hour we 

 had no opportunity that night of examining the river, 

 further than to observe that it was unobstructed by ice, 

 which observation afforded us great satisfaction. 



On the morning of the 18th we launched in the clear, 

 strong stream of the Lower Telzoa, and very soon found 

 ourselves at the head of the rapids we had heard. At 

 the second rapid the first unmistakable signs of the 

 recent habitations of Eskimos were discovered. They 

 consisted of rings of camp stones, an old bow, several 

 broken arrows, a whip-stock and numerous broken or 

 partly formed willow ribs of a " kyack " or canoe. 



About six miles or so down from Tobaunt Lake we 

 arrived at the head of a wild rapid, where the broad 

 river rushes down through a narrow, rocky gorge, not 

 more than fifty yards in width, and about two and 

 a half miles in length. Over this entire distance the 

 river forms one continuous boiling, tumbling stream of 

 foaming water, which at every rock in its course is 

 dashed high in air into myriad particles of spray. At 

 the foot of the rapid the river again widens out beyond 

 its usual width into a little lake, which was still more 

 than half covered by the last winter's ice. 



Past the entire length of this rapid a portage of 

 everything had, of course, to be made. Camp was 

 pitched at the foot, and near it were found bones of 

 musk oxen. Later, on the opposite side of the rapid, 

 two of these animals were seen. 



On the morning of the 19th we started across the 

 little ice-bound lake in a northerly direction, and within 



