NORTHERN OCEAN 87 



which empties itself into a large lake called Yath-kyed-whoie,^ 1770. 

 or White Snow Lake. Here we found several tents of-'"^" 

 Northern Indians, who had been some time employed spearing 

 deer in their canoes, as they crossed the above mentioned 

 little river. Here also we met a Northern Indian Leader, or 

 Captain, called Keelshies, and a small party of his crew, who 

 were bound to Prince of Wales's Fort, with furs [36] and other 

 commodities for trade. When Keelshies was made acquainted 

 with the intent of my journey, he readily offered his service 

 to bring me anything from the Factory that we were likely 

 to stand in need of; and though we were then in latitude 

 62° \ North, and longitude 7° 12' West from Churchill, yet 

 he promised to join us again, at a place appointed by my 

 guide, by the setting in of the Winter. In consequence of 

 this offer, I looked over our ammunition and other articles ; 

 and finding that a little powder, shot, tobacco, and a few 

 knives were likely to be of service before the journey could 

 be completed, I determined to send a letter to the governor 

 of Prince of Wales's Fort, to advise him of my situation, and 

 to desire him to send by the bearer a certain quantity of the 

 above articles ; on which Keelshies and his crew proceeded on 

 their journey for the Factory the same day. 



Cathawhachaga was the only river we had seen since the 

 breaking up of the ice that we could not ford ; and as we had 

 not any canoes with us, we were obliged to get ferried across 

 by the strange Indians. When we arrived on the North side 



Paleluah, where the stream is deep and narrow, and has but a moderate 

 current. This is a well-known crossing place for the caribou on their annual 

 migrations from the forest to the Arctic Coast and back again, and the Eskimos 

 wait to spear them while they are swimming across the stream, just as the 

 Indians doubtless waited when they occupied this country. Its position is in 

 latitude 62° 36' north, 28' south of the position assigned to it by Hearne in 

 the text, and the longitude 4° 6' west of Fort Prince of Wales. His map does 

 not here agree with his description, but places this crossing of the Kazan River 

 in latitude 62° 40' north, very nearly in its true position. Cathawhachaga is a 

 Chipewyan word meaning " where fish are plentiful in the river."] 



[' Yath-kyed or White Snow Lake, at present known to the Eskimos as 

 Haecoliguah.] 



