22 Thirty Years 



mouldy peimnican, obtained at Swampy Lake, for a 

 better kind, and received, moreover, a small, but very 

 acceptable, supply of fish. Holey Lake, viewed from 

 an eminence behind Oxford House, exhibits a pleasing 

 prospect ; and its numerous islands, varying much in 

 shape and elevation, contribute to break that uniform- 

 ity of scenery which proves so palling to a traveler in 

 this country. Trout of a great size, frequently ex- 

 ceeding forty pounds weight, abound in this lake. 

 We left Oxford House in the afternoon, and encamped 

 on an island about eight miles distant, having come, 

 during the day, nine miles and a quarter. 



At noon, on the 29th, after passing through the 

 remainder of Holey Lake, we entered the Weepinap- 

 annis, a narrow grassy river, which runs parallel to 

 the lake for a considerable distance, and forms its 

 South bank into a narrow peninsula. In the morning 

 we arrived at the Swampy Portage, where two of the 

 boats were broken against the rocks. The length of 

 the day's voyage was nineteen miles and a half. 



In consequence of the accident yesterday evening, 

 we were detained a considerable time this morning, 

 until the boats were repaired, when we Bet out, and 

 after ascending a strong rapid, arrived at the Portage 

 by John Moore's [eland. Here the river rushes with 

 irresistible force through the channels formed by two 

 rocky islands ; and we learnt, that last year a poor 



