150 LABRADOR 
end of the lake is shallow, being filled with sand brought 
down by the river. The Hudson’s Bay post was situated 
on a sandy plain near the inlet; it was abandoned in 1873, 
and subsequently destroyed by fire. The old journals 
of this post show that the first snow fell about September 
20th and remained until the following June. The lowest tem- 
perature recorded was — 55° F. Geese, ducks, and sum- 
mer birds arrived about the 10th of May and were killed 
in large numbers in the open water at the head of the lake. 
In the autumn and winter, ptarmigan were very abundant, 
while caribou and bears were frequently killed in the valley 
and on the surrounding plateau. The spring catch of fish 
was always notable, white fish and trout being taken in 
large numbers in nets set about the post. In the summer, 
all the inhabitants used to go in canoes with the winter’s 
fur to the post at Northwest River. Before leaving the 
place, potatoes and turnips were planted and left to the 
care of Nature until the return of the traders in September ; 
it is not surprising that the comments on the crops were 
unfavourable. 
The river is easily navigable from the head of Winokapau 
Lake to the Grand Falls portage, situated on the north side 
of the river some forty-five miles upstream, at the foot 
of a continuous rapid, which extends several miles to the 
mouth of Bowdoin Canyon. 
In order to pass the Grand Falls, and reach the upper 
part of the river, the valley must be left at the foot of the 
rapids, where a portage, up the bed of a small tributary, 
rises abruptly seven hundred feet and then, by gradual 
ascent for two miles, leads to a small lake on the level of 
the plateau. The route then leads through fourteen small 
