* 72 Thirty Years 



breakfast and traveled quickly, as we had the advan- 

 tage of a well beaten track. At the end of eighteen 

 miles we entered upon the river " Loche," which has 

 a serpentine course, and is confined between alluvial 

 banks that support stunted willows and a few pines ; 



• we encamped about three miles further on ; and in 

 the course of the next day's march perceived several 

 holes in the ice, and many unsafe places for the 

 sledges. Our companions said the ice of this river is 

 always in the same insecure state, even during the 

 most severe winter, which they attribute to warm 

 springs. Quitting the river we crossed a portage and 

 came upon the Methye Lake, and soon afterwards ar- 

 rived at the trading posts situated on the western sido 

 of it. These were perfect huts, which had been hastily 

 built after the commencement of the last winter. 

 We lure saw two hunters who were Chipewyan half- 

 breeds, and made many inquiries of them respecting 

 the countries we expected to visit, but we found them 

 quite ignorant of every part beyond the Athabasca 

 Lake. They spoke of Mr. Hearne and of his compan- 

 ion Matonnabee, but did not add to our stock of in- 

 formation respecting thai journey. It had happened 

 before their bird), but they remembered the expedi- 

 tion of Sir Alexander Mackenzie towards the sea. 



This is a picturesque lake, about ten miles long and 

 six broad, and receives its name from a Bpecies of fish 



