An Expedition down the Begh-uta. 49 



lakes in the tract alluded to, until the deer begin to 

 apj^roach the woods, about the middle or end of August. A 

 few of the Batard Loucheux tribe hunt along the east 

 side of the Anderson below the mouth of the Lockhart. 

 Their lodges consist of poles placed nearly upright with a 

 partial covering of turf, and their dress and appearance was 

 extremely dirty, thus presenting a great contrast to the 

 Esquimaux, whom they affect to despise. The country in 

 this quarter was sandy and marshy, with several plains and 

 numerous small lakes and its general appearance fiat. The 

 Anderson River Mountain was now much nearer and bore 

 E.N.E. 



We left the Indians in the evening, reached the Boss, 

 and there encamped. We next day saw three more lodges 

 on another lake, and were supplied with some half dried 

 fish. From this place we made a portage of two miles 

 to a smaller lake, which we crossed, and then reached a 

 larger, along which we continued until we came to a nar- 

 row strait dividing it from another lake. These lakes were 

 less encumbered with ice than the others, and our progress, 

 therefore, was better. The country in the vicinity was 

 high and hilly. Small sandy hills or knolls of a conical 

 form were invariably observed near the entrance and out- 

 flow of the river, as well as along the banks of the several 

 lakes. 



On the 10th we ascended the Ross to the largest lake 

 (named " Colville Lake ") yet seen, which was reached 

 about noon and found to be almost entirely covered with 

 ice. We, however, followed a narrow space of water on th e 

 right shore, and by means of a few portages we succeeded 

 in getting to the other end of the lake about midnight. On 

 this occasion, while paddling along at a distance of 150 

 yards from land, the canoe sprung a leak which threatened 

 to sink us, and it was only by very hard paddling we man- 

 aged to save ourselves. The canoe, however, sunk in four 

 feet of water. It was taken on shore and again repaired. In 

 our course thither it required constant baling, but had at 

 length become useless. The banks of Colville Lake are 

 4 



