I 237 ] 50 



from popular account. The lake is on the plateau of the Shayen oju, and 

 is surrounded by swells and hills, varying in height from 20 to 250 feet, 

 that so project into it as not to permit its whole expanse to be seen but 

 from one spot, which I shall presently describe. 



The prominent hill-top, previously alluded to by the name of Mini- 

 wakanchante, is the only beacon to the traveller leading to the lake ; but 

 even from its summits no idea can be formed of this beautiful sheet of 

 water. He must go to a smaller eminence, known as the Butte du Milieu 

 by the French voyageurs, whence alone the eye can take in the principal 

 contours of the lake. 



The greatest extension of Devil't; lake is at least 40 miles — but may be 

 more, as we did not, and could not, ascertain the end of the northwest bay, 

 which 1 left undefined on the map. It is bordered by hills that are pretty 

 well wooded on one side, but furrowed by ravines and coulees, that are 

 taken advantage of by warlike parties, both for attack and deience, ac- 

 cording to circumstances. The lake itself is so filled up with islands 

 and promontories, that, in travelling along its shores, it is only occasion- 

 ally that one gets a glimpse of its expanse. This description belongs 

 only to its wooded side ; for, on the opposite side, the shores, though still 

 bounded by hills, are destitute of trees, so as to exhibit an embankment 

 to the east from 10 to 12 miles long, upon an average breadth of three- 

 quarters of a mile. The average breadth of the lake may be laid down 

 at 15 miles. Its waters appear to be the drainings of the surrounding 

 hills. We discovered no outlets in the whole extent of about three quarters 

 of its contour we could explore. At all events, if there be any, they do not 

 empty into the Red river of the North, since the lake is shut up in that 

 direction, and since we found its true geographical position to be much 

 more to the north than it is ordinarily laid down upon maps. A single 

 depression at its lower end would intimate that, in limes of high water, 

 some discharge might possibly take place ; but then it would be into the 

 iSliayenoJH. 



As to the natural history of the waters of the Miniwaka?i, it is shortly 

 told. They are too brackish to be drunk, excepting by horses, who swal- 

 low them with avidity ; they have a deeper green color than those of the 

 neighboring lakes that are not salt. I had no means of ascertaining the 

 density of the water of this lake ; but having caused several gallons of it 

 to be evaporated by distillation, I subsequently made an analysis of the 

 residuum, which proved to be a mixture of sulphates and hydrochlorates of 

 soda and magnesia. 



As we were not provided with nets, we could not ascertain what species 

 of fish inhabit it. My guides assured me that there were several, and some 

 of a large size ; and this was afterwards confirmed to me by some Indians 

 with whom I conversed on the subject. It is a fact, that my men, after a 

 thimder-gust, found on the beach a number of red fish, and' a pike which 

 we judged would weigh several pounds. Strawberry vines were found in 

 abundance on the sunny side of the lake. 



Finally, and in conclusion of my description of the region about this 

 lake, I may add that the soil is found, in dry weather, to be covered with 

 a saline efflorescence, which sufficiently accounts for its being a great 

 resort of the buffaloes. It also produces a variety of new and interesting 

 |ilants, some of which will be found in the catalogue of plants under 



