THE TRIP TO WAHPOOSKOW 135 



pike, dory, and tullabees, the latter a close congener of the 

 whitefish, but finer in flavour and very fat. Indeed, the 

 best fed dogs we had seen were those summering here. The 

 lake, where we struck it, was literally covered with pin-tail 

 ducks and teal ; but it is not a good moose country, and con- 

 sequently the food supply of the natives is mainly fish. 



We descried a few half-breed cabins and clearings on the 

 opposite shore, carved out of the dense forest which girdles 

 the lake, and topographically the country seemed to be of a 

 moderate elevation, and well suited for settlement. The 

 wind having gone down, we crossed the lake on the 2nd of 

 September to what is here called Sandy Creek, a very crooked 

 stream, its thick, sluggish current bordered by willows and 

 encumbered with reeds and flags, and, farther on, made a 

 two-mile portage, where at a very bad landing we were joined 

 by the boats, and presently paddled into a great circular 

 pond, covered with float-weed, a very paradise of ducks, 

 which were here in myriads. 



Its continuation, called " The ISTarrows," now flowed in a 

 troubled channel, crossed in all directions by jutting boul- 

 ders, full of tortuous snies, to be groped along dexterously 

 with the poles, but dropped at last into better water, ending 

 at a portage, where we dined. This portage led to the farm- 

 house of a Mr. Houle, a native of Red River, who had left 

 St. Vital fifty-eight years before, and was now settled at a 

 beautiful spot on the right bank of the river, and had horses, 

 cows and other cattle, a garden, and raised wheat and other 

 grain, which he said did well, and was evidently prosperous. 

 After a regale of milk we embarked for the first Wahpooskow 

 lake, which we reached in the afternoon. 



This is a fine and comparatively clear sheet of water, much 

 frequented by the natives. The day was beautiful, and with 

 a fair wind and sails up we passed point after point sprinkled 

 with the cabins and tepees of the Indians and half-breeds. 

 It was perfectly charming to sweep up to and past these 

 primitive lodgings, with a spanking breeze, and the dancing 



