N iRR Ml". T, l-o 



CHAPTER V. 



Asrcnt of the east fork of the • from Kubbakunna Lake to 



the Maiwa rujiids. — Its productions. — Indians hill a titer ; their 

 mod ling it, — Reach the foot of Naiwa rapide. — Tht Vi 



tea portage. — Cop enake. — Zoned agate. — Journey from 



thence to Ossnica Lake, the source of this branch of the MtitU 

 — Mistake in the latitude. — Portage from the east to the west branch. 

 — Hauteur des Terrcs — the height of land between the Hudson s Bay 

 and Gulf of Mt tiro water?. — Geographical notices of its extent. — 

 Its natural productions. — Its geology. — Arrival at Itasca Lake. 



We resumed the ascent at live o'clock in the morning, (12th.) 

 The course of this branch of the river, above the Kubbakunna 

 Lake, res thread wound across a savannah valley. A 



spc< oarse marsh-land i i the valley. Clumps 



of willow fringe this stream. Rushes and Indian reed are ga- 

 thered in spots most favorable to their growth. The eye 



b ni vain, for much novehy in the vegetation. Where 

 the stream touches the solid land, grey pine, and tamarack are 

 conspicuous, and clumps of alder here take the place of willow. 

 lion attaches itself to almost every thing. And there is a de- 

 gree of dampness and obscurity in the forest, which is almost 

 peculiar to the region. Water fowl seem alone to exult in their 

 seclusion, and evince the infrequency of intrusion by flying a 

 short distance, and ntly alighting within gun-shot. 



After we had gone on a little more than an hour, the Indian 

 in the bow of the forward canoe, fired at, and killed a deer. 

 \\ all landed to look at the animal. Although fairly shot 

 through the fore part of the body, it ran several hundred yards 



ore it fell. The Indian traced it by its blood, and found if 

 quite dead. He brought it to t!io banks of the i :orc 



7 



