72 ; Thirty Years 
breakfast and traveléd quickly, as we had the advan- 
tage of a well beaten track. At the end of eighteen 
miles we entered upon the river “ Loche,” which has 
a serpentine course, and is confined between alluvial 
banks that support stunted willows and a few pines ; 
we encamped about three miles further on; and in 
the course of the next day’s march perceived several 
holes in the ice, and many unsafe places for the 
sledges. Our companions said the ice of this river is 
always in the same insecure state, even during the 
most severe winter, which they attribute to warm 
springs. Quitting the river we crossed a portage and. 
came upon the Methye Lake, and soon afterwards ar- 
rived at the trading posts situated on the western side 
of it. These were perfect huts, which had been hastily 
built after the commencement of the last winter. 
We here saw two hunters who were Chipewyan half- 
breeds, and made many inquiries of them respecting 
the countries we expected to visit, but we found them 
quite ignorant of every part beyond the Athabasca 
Lake. They spoke of Mr. Hearne and of his compan- 
ion Matonnabee, but did not add to our stock of in- 
formation respecting that journey. It had happened 
before their birth, but they remembered the expedi- 
tion of Sir Alexander Mackenzie towards the sea. 
This is a picturesque lake, about ten miles long and 
six broad, and receives its name from a svecies of fish 
