96 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [no. 'M. 



of the salt used throughout the north is procured here. Near the 

 mouth of the stream stand several houses, some of which are occu- 

 pied by members of the celebrated Beaulieu family." About 3 miles 

 below Salt River we reach the Grand Detour, where the river turns 

 sharply to the left, then bends again to the right and almost regains 

 the place where its course was deflected. Around this bend the river 

 follows a course of about 10 miles, which can be avoided by a portage 

 across the base of the peninsula which is thus formed. About 14 

 miles below, Point Brule is passed, and about 30 miles beyond, Point 

 Ennuyeux, where the river again doubles on itself as at the Grand 

 Detour. Along this part of the river the banks are rather low, and 

 many low, sandy islands occur. These islands, because of changes in 

 the currents, are continually altering their shape, and some are travel- 

 ing slowly downstream, being worn away at the upper end, and added 

 to below by the sediment-laden waters. The higher islands are well 

 wooded with spruces, poplars, and willows, the several species usually 

 being disposed in belts, with the evergreens on the higher part of the 

 island. (See PL VII, fig. 3.) 



About 6 miles below Point Ennuyeux a low broad point showing 

 scattered fragments of limestone is passed on the right, and just below, 

 Six Mile Island — low, narrow, and wooded — is separated from the 

 eastern bank by a narrow channel. Gradually the banks become 

 lower, and some 25 miles beyond the McConnell Islands are passed. 

 A few miles below them we reach the head of the delta, where 

 Riviere au Jean, one of the main outlets, turns toward the eastward, 

 while the larger branch follows a general northerly course to Great 

 Slave Lake, inclosing many low islands. The alluvial banks on the 

 lower Slave are constantly being cut away and the uprooted trees 

 precipitated into the stream. (PL VII, fig. 2.) Tayo or three miles 

 above the lake, below a moderately high cut bank on the left, a narrow 

 channel, locally called a ' schney,' with a fairly strong current, turns 

 abruptly to the westward and affords the easiest course to Fort Reso- 

 lution. After following its winding course for 3 or 4 miles, we enter 

 a shallow bay, separated from the main lake by several wooded 

 islands, and passing through a short narrow channel between Mission 

 Island and the mainland, reach the lake within sight of Fort Resolu- 

 tion. 



°Petitot slates that the half-breed family Beaulieu bad already settled at 

 Salt River when Peter Pond penetrated to Great Slave Lake in 17S0 and that 

 one of them, Jacques, acted as his interpreter. Ever since that time some 

 members of the Beaulieu family seem to have continuously occupied that sta- 

 tion. Francois Beaulieu, a nephew of Jacques, was a guide and hunter to 

 Franklin's expedition about Great Bear Lake in 1825-26. Mr. MacFarlane 

 informs me that from 1S57 until his death in 1S72, Francois Beaulieu traded 

 fur and gathered salt for the Hudson's Bay Company at Salt Liver. After his 

 death, his son Joseph continued trading until 1874, when Fort Smith was 

 established. 



