ACROSS THE SUB-ARCTICS OF CANADA 



Near the outlet of Markham Lake was found au excep- 

 tionally interesting little island. For weeks we had seen 

 nothing but Laurentian or Huronian hills, but here was a 

 solitary out-lier of white Cambrio-Silurian limestone. The 

 size of the island was perhaps not more than ten acres, but 

 its whole composition was quite different from anything in 

 the district, and growing on it were found many entirely new 

 varieties of plants. Several hours were spent here with fruit- 

 ful results, and just as the shadows of evening were stealing 

 from the rocky hills far across the lonely plains, we dis- 



ICE ON THE SHORE OF MARKHAM LAKE. 



covered, at the north end of the lake, our river, upon the bare, 

 high, rocky bank of which we pitched camp. 



It is worthy of note that at this point some very old moss- 

 grown " tepee " poles and fragments of birch bark were 

 found, indicating that in days gone by the spot had been 

 visited by Indians, though it was now known to them only 

 in legends. We had seen no recent traces of Indians since 

 entering the Dubawnt, but at some time they had descended 

 thus far, and had camped on the same bald hill which we 

 now occupied. There was more than sentiment to us in the 



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