102 THEOUGH THE MACKENZIE BASIN 



Chipewyans drying fish and making birch-bark canoes, all of 

 them fat, dirty, like ourselves, and happy; and, passing on, 

 at dusk we reached the outlet and the lake. 



It was blowing hard, but we decided to cross to the fort, 

 where a light had been run up for our guidance, and which, 

 by vigorous rowing, we reached by midnight. Here Mr. 

 Laird was waiting to receive us, the other Commissioners 

 having departed for Fort McMurray and Wahpooskow. 



Next morning we saw the lake to better advantage. It is 

 called by the Chipewyans Kaytaylaytooway, namely, " The 

 Lake of the Marsh," corresponding to the Athapuskow of the 

 Crees, corrupted into the Eabasca of the French voyageurs, 

 and meaning " The Lake of the Eeeds." At one time, it may 

 be mentioned, it was also known as " The Lake of the Hills," 

 and its great tributary, the Athabasca, was the Elk River; 

 but these names have not survived. 



