CHrRCHILL AND NELSON RIVERS. 2f> C 



or fifteen miles long) a rocky hill overlooks the water for a few miles. 



Here, and in some other places on the route, the woods are burnt, but 



most of the timber in this region appears to be green, and of a thrift}^ 



growth, the spruces sometimes measuring over six feet in girth. The 



water of Grass River is slightly turbid, but that of Landing Lake is 



clear. The barometer indicated that this lake has an elevation of Elevation of 



thirty-six feet over Wintering Lake, and fifty-four feet over Sipi-wcsk ^°'^*"«^^®' 



Lake. 



Explorations by Mr. A. S. Cochrane. 



Finding that the method which would be most advantageous for mo 

 to adopt in making my surveys of the Churchill and Nelson Rivers, 

 would not require the aid of my assistant, I assigned to 3Ir. Cochrane 

 a separate region to explore, in order that by working independently 

 of each other, we might examine a larger area of country during 

 the season. He was instructed to make a topographical and geological instructions, 

 exploration of the region lying to the south of the route which I had 

 followed the previous year, using God's and Island Lakes and their Jljyjj^oJjJ^'j.^ 

 connecting waters from Oxford House as a basis of operations. He House. 

 was also directed to make observations and collect information as to 

 the fauna of the region, the climate, soil, timber, and the character of 

 the country generally. 



The accompanying map, on a scale of one inch to four miles. Map. 

 engraved from the original, as prepared by Mr. Cochrane from his 

 own track-surveys, exhibits the leading topographical features of the 

 regi(»n which he explored. It serves to simplify very much the 

 following description, which is taken from this gentleman's account, 

 aided by his plans, notes and specimens. He proceeded from Norway 

 House to Oxford House by the Hudson's Bay Company's boats, and at 

 the latter place obtained a canoe and men through the courtesy of Mr. 

 Cuthbert Sinclair, the officer in charge. The route which he followed J^ute to God's 



' ° Lake. 



to God's Lake, leaves a bay on the south side of Knee Lake about 

 sixteen miles from its western extremity, and proceeds by way of 

 Wolf and Wolverine Rivers and Swampy Portage, which is nearly two 

 miles long and terminates on the shore of God's Lake. 



God's Lake runs north-east and south-west, and has a length of forty- God's Lake. 

 eight miles. Its widest portion measures fourteen miles across. At 

 rather more than halfway up from its north-cast extremity, is the 

 Manitouwapa, or Wonderful Narrows, where the lake contracts to 

 a few chains in width, and a current flowing to the north-eastward 

 is perceptible. A canoe-route to Oxford Lake leaves the north-west 

 side of the upper portion of the Lake by way of Touchwood River, 

 3 



