An Expedition down the Begh-ula. 51 



and rock. Before reaching the Peau de Lievre, the said 

 rocky chain disappeared behind us, and two others arose to 

 the south, viz : that at the Sansault Eapid, above Good 

 Hope, and the other on the east side higher up the Mac- 

 kenzie. The timber consists of pine, juniper, fir, willow, 

 and a few groves of poplar and birch. Some of the pines 

 were of a large size. 



From the spot where we halted for dinner on the 11th, 

 we had a fine view of a large bay on Simpson Lake. The 

 ice thereon was still as white and firm as in mid-winter, and 

 the Indian informed me that it never broke up until late in 

 the season. The banks appeared high and well timbered. 

 He also informed me that its waters were deep and of a 

 bluish color, and its shores rocky. A great number of 

 families pass the severe months of the winter on this lake, 

 in which fish are obtainable all the year round. 



Finding near our encampment a raft which had been used 

 by Indians in crossing the Peau de Lievre, last spring, 

 we launched it and continued the descent of that river uutil 

 noon, when we found an Indian canoe on the beach. This 

 we repaired, and going on much quicker with the paddle, 

 we arrived at Fort Good Hope late in the evening of the 

 14th July, after an absence of forty-one days — the Indians 

 sent home having preceded us by nine and Laporte by 

 seven days. Had we not lost our own canoes, this trip 

 would have been performed in less time, as most of the 

 rapids on Anderson Eiver could have been ascended with 

 the line, and all of them — one only excepted — might be run 

 by a North canoe. 



From the date of our departure until the 3rd of July we 

 had but a few hours of rain or snow, the weather being 

 always fine. After that date we had rain and cloudy 

 weather until we reached the Peau de Lievre, the descent 

 of which was effected under a severe thunderstorm, accom- 

 panied by torrents of rain. The prevailing winds were from 

 the north and northeast. It was also misty at night near 

 the coast. After leaving the Anderson, musquitoes were in 



