58 ON THE GREAT CHURCHILL RIVER 



of sunshine with days of rain a rare excep- 

 tion. 



June 8. Morning overcast after a night of 

 heavy rain, but the heavy clouds cleared about 

 10 a.m. and the day thenceforward was bright 

 and pleasant; the air crystal-clear as the spark- 

 ling water, the whole North world pure with the 

 intense cleanness of virginity. 



To-day we passed down the rapidless stretch 

 of river between Knee Lake and Sandy Lake : 

 a stretch sub-named Grassy River on account of 

 the waterway for some distance wending its way, 

 in three separate channels, through broad green 

 marsh. The chief incident of the day was the 

 finding of a colony of nesting terns on a low, plant- 

 barren, wave-washed island, full note of which 

 is given in the subsequent chapter of " Field 

 Notes." While on the island, some time was 

 spent photographing nests, and, thus delayed, we 

 were still short of Sandy Lake when night ap- 

 proached and necessitated our pitching camp on 

 the river bank. 



June 9. We breakfasted in rain, and struck 

 camp, to continue our canoe journey under the 

 same discomforting conditions. An hour after 

 leaving camp we emerged into Sandy Lake, and 

 throughout the day voyaged through it. Sandy 

 Lake bore out its name, containing many low 

 broad points and bays of beautiful sand. Indeed, 

 so clean and white were the shores in many 

 places that the lake was thereby of pleasing fresh 

 aspect in comparison with those already navi- 

 gated. Here, too, and on account of the compo- 

 sition of the beach, shore birds were found more 



