74 NARRATIVE, &c 



through the more prevalent growth of wortle berry, L. latifolia, 

 &c. Markings and hieroglyphic characters were pointed out 

 to us on the pines, some of which were said to be so ancient as 

 to have been made by the people who occupied the country be- 

 fore the Ojibwais. Of the truth of this assertion there did not 

 appear to be any certain means of judging. A blaze on the 

 pinus resinosa, if made upon a matured tree, may be considered 

 as comparatively permanent, from the fact that the outer bark is 

 not apt to close over it, while the gum that exudes over the 

 wounded surface, has some of the properties of a varnish. How 

 long the rude drawings of birds and animals, made with char- 

 coal would thus be preserved, is mere matter of conjecture, and 

 must depend upon observations which we had no means of 

 making. 



A portage of nine hundred and fifty yards brought us to the 

 banks of a small lake, called Moss Lake, which we were but a 

 short time in crossing. The water being clear, large masses 

 appeared to rise from the bottom, which had very much the 

 aspect of boulders. On reaching down, however, the men 

 brought up on their paddles, a species of moss of a coarse fi- 

 brous character. And this moss seemed to be quite a character- 

 istic trait of the lake. There is a slight relief, to both mind and 

 body, in these changes from land to water transportation, even 

 where the distance is very short ; and the men resume their la- 

 bor, in carrying, with greater alacrity. We found it so on the 

 present occasion. No change however appeared in the general 

 character of the country. We crossed a bog of perhaps fifty 

 or sixty yards in extent, where the water appeared to have 

 some motion towards the left. All the rest of the way consists 

 of an unvaried sand plain, which is sometimes brushy, but 

 generally open, presenting facilities for travelling. A walk of 

 four thousand and one hundred yards, or about two and a half 

 miles brought us out to the edge of Lake Shiba,* a body of clear 



* Composed of the initials of the names of the gentlemen of the party. 



