54 NARRATIVE, &c 



table land between the waters of Hudson's Bay and the Mex- 

 ican Gulf. It also gives rise to the remotest tributaries of the 

 river St. Louis, which, through Lake Superior and its connect- 

 ing chain, may be considered as furnishing the head waters of 

 the St. Lawrence. This table land, is probably, the highest in 

 Northwestern America, in this longitude. 



In crossing this highland, our Indian guide, Oza Windib, led 

 the way, carrying one of the canoes, as his portion of the bur- 

 den. The others followed, some bearing canoes, and others 

 baggage. The whole party were arranged in Indian file, and 

 marched rapidly a distance — then put down their burthens a 

 few moments, and again pressed forward. Each of these stops 

 is called a pose by the voyegeurs, and is denominated Opugid- 

 jiwunon, or a place of putting down the burthen, by the Indians. 

 Thirteen of these rests, are deemed the length of the portage. 

 The path is rather blind, and requires the precision of an Indian 

 eye to detect it. Even the guide was sometimes at a loss, and 

 went forward to explore. We passed a small lake occupying a 

 vale, about midway of the portage, in canoes. The route be- 

 yond it, was more obstructed with underbrush. To avoid this, 

 we waded through the margins of a couple of ponds, near which 

 we observed old camp poles, indicating former journies by the 

 Indians. 



The weather was warm and not favorable to much activity in 

 bird or beast. We saw one or two species of the falco, and the 

 common pigeon, which extends its migrations over the continent. 

 Tracks of deer were numerous, but travelling without the pre- 

 caution required in hunting, we had no opportunity of seeing 

 this animal on the high grounds. It was observed in the valleys 

 of the river, on both branches. Ripe straw berries were brought 

 to me, by the men, at one of the resting places. I observed a 

 very diminutive species of the raspberry, with fruit, on the 

 moist grounds. Botanists would probably deem the plants few, 

 and destitute of much interest. Parasitic moss is very common 

 to the forest trees, and it communicates a peculiar aspect to the 

 grey pine, which is the prevailing growth on all the elevations. 



