14 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [^'°-^^' 



deep and bordered by high, rocky banks, on which PotentiUa trklen- 

 tata grows abundantly. Seven miles from the Painted Stone the 

 stream unites with wiiite ^\'ater Kiver, which discharges the waters 

 of Little Lake \Yinnipeg, and from this point to Oxford Lake the 

 stream is called Franklin River. 



The Robinson lakes, the southern shores of which are rather marshy 

 and the northern shores higher, are next passed, and then 12 miles 

 from the junction of the two streams Robinson Portage is reached. 

 Here a portage of about three-fourths of a mile is necessary to avoid 

 Robinson Rapids, where the river plunges through a deep ravine in a 

 series of falls and rapids, with a total descent of about 50 feet. Deep 

 mossv woods border this gorge, the excessive moisture from the 

 rapids causing a luxuriant growth. From the lower or northern end 

 of Robinson Portage, which lies nearly north and south, extends a line 

 of lakes with marshy shores and supporting an abundant growth of 

 sweet flag {AcoruH calamiis). A short stop was made and some col- 

 lecting done at the north end of the portage. Immediately below these 

 lakes the river plunges with considerable rapidity through a rocky 

 gorge called Hell Gate. A short portage is made at its entrance, and 

 after being launched in a surging pool at the foot of the rapid, the 

 canoe is borne swiftly through the gorge. In some places the rocky 

 walls rise nearly perpendicularly without a break; in others the bank 

 consists of a succession of steep mossy terraces, the homes of several 

 eagles." Throughout most of its course of 7 miles through the gorge, 

 the river is confined within narrow limits, and the smooth but impet- 

 uous current bears the voyager rapidly onward, constantly bringing 

 fresh vistas to his view. In a few places a portion of the rocky walls 

 has fallen, partiallj^ damming the stream, and the canoe is run through 

 short, rapid chutes, the perpendicular walls preventing a landing, 

 however desirable it might appear. Farther down the rocky banks 

 are not so high and the surrounding country is seen to consist of rugged 

 rock masses scantilj- clothed with Banksian pines. Here the voj^ager 

 may land to see the 'kettles'— deep, rounded potholes of various sizes, 

 which have been worn in the rock during past ages. 



A short distance beyond the lower end of Hell Gate Gorge, 23 miles 

 from Robinson Portage, lies Pine Lake, a small, irregularly outlined 

 body of water containing numerous islands and environed bj'^ rocky 

 but fairl}^ well wooded shores. Ten miles farther on, below a succes- 

 sion of small ponds and channels with marsh j^ shores, lies Windy Lake. 

 Here the banks are moderatel}' high and formerly were well wooded; 

 but within the past few }'ears they have been partially denuded by fire. 

 The head of Windy Lake is 12 miles distant from Oxford Lake, near 



« Compare Franklin, who says, in speaking of this gorge, " The brown flshing-eagle 

 had built ita nest on one of the projecting cliffs. ' ' Narrative of a Journey to the Polar 

 Sea, p. 39, 1823. 



