1908.] ROUTES TRAVERSED— MACKENZIE. 99 



North of Yellowknife Bay the canoe route passes through a network 

 of low rocky islands, following closely the eastern shore. Grassy 

 inlets occur in many places, and the stretch is a favorite breeding 

 place for several species of ducks. Near the extremity of the North- 

 ern Arm, about 50 miles northwestward from Yellowknife Bay, 

 stands Fori Kue (PI. IX. fig. 3). 



Fort Rae is situated on the western extremity of a projecting point, 

 which was at one time an island, hut which is now connected by a 

 marsh with the eastern shore of the Northern Arm." Back of the posi 

 the land rises rather abruptly and extends easterly in an elevated 

 ridge for several miles. Its southern face is capped by a limestone 

 cliff, below which a steep talus slope extends to the water. Most 

 of the timber, originally of good size, has been removed for fuel, and 

 the ' Island Hill ' now presents a comparatively barren aspect, though 

 it is well covered with shrubby and herbaceous plants (PI. IX, fig. 

 '2). It is remarkable as presenting the only exposure of limestone 

 which occurs on the eastern shore of the Northern Arm. To the west- 

 ward extends the broad arm of tin 1 lake, dotted with a few wooded 

 islands, and bordered on the west side by an elevated limestone 

 escarpment. 



Since Great Slave Lake has already been described ( p. 26), I will 

 refer briefly to Hay River, where a small collection was made in 1903, 

 and proceed with an account of the Mackenzie. The trading post of 

 Hay River (see PI. VIII, fig. 3) is situated at the mouth of the 

 stream of that name, which enters Great Slave Lake about •'>() 

 miles southwesterly from Fort Resolution. Here are located both 

 Church of England and Catholic missions. The shores of this 

 part of the lake are low and marshy, with grassy plains bordering 

 some of the streams. Westward from Hay River the low shore con- 

 tinues to the vicinity of the Desmarais Islands. Point de Roche, a long 

 bowlder-strewn spit, being passed about 14 miles from Hay River. 

 Eagle Mountain, a long limestone ridge rising from the Hat country 

 to the southwest, is a conspicuous landmark. Near the Desmarais 

 Islands the current of the outlet begins to be apparent. Big Island, 

 about 10 miles in length, with many smaller adjacent isles, lies in the 



°For1 Rae was established en its present site in 1852, mainly .-is a provision 

 post. An abandoned post near the presenl site is thus referred to by Russell: 

 "Two hundred yards from the big house, on the shore of a utile cove railed 

 Sandy Hay. a few crumbling ruins (if day and stone Chimneys mark the site 

 of an 'old fort.' abandoned so long ago that nothing is known by the present 

 inhabitants concerning it. Another fort once stood near the Big Point, twenty- 

 five miles south." (Expl. in Far North, p. 69, L898.) 



A letter written by W. F. Wentzel from " .Mountain island, Great Slave 

 Lake," dated .May 23, 1820 ( Masson. Fes Bourgeois, I. p. P_'.">. 1889), would 

 seem to indicate an establishment near the present site of Fort Rae at that 

 early date. Possibly this refers to the abandoned site referred Pi by Russell. 



