

LAKE OF THE WOODS. 23 
the lake. The lake discharges its waters by the Winnipeg River at Rat 
Portage, and there begins the descent of about three hundred feet to 
Winnipeg Lake, by a fine cascade and rapid. 
39. The northern part of the lake is studded with innumerable islands, 
comparatively few of which are marked on any map. Some are several 
milesin length, others of very small size, but they are invariably composed 
of solid rock, and seldom have more than a.very scanty covering of soil. 
The shores of this part of the lake are also rocky and bold, and the water 
clear and deep, giving rise to its common name of Clear-water Lake. It 
communicates by several narrow passages through a maze of islands, 
with the southern portion, which is totally different in character. Here, 
q islands are comparatively rare, and the lake forms a broad sea-like ex- 
panse, which is easily thrown into violent agitation by the winds, 
rendering canoe navigation somewhat precarious. The shores are for 
the most part low and swampy, in some places covered with a dense 
growth of tamarac, but often bordered by low sand-hills, and stretching out 
q behind them in great reedy Muskegs.* The water is comparatively shallow | 
and somewhat turbid. To this part of the lake the name Lake of the | 
Woods is generally applied, but itis more properly called Lake of the 
Sand-hills. A third great division of this system of waters lies between ; 
the eastern bays of Clear-water Lake and Lake of the Sand-hills. It 
. 
; 
| 

communicates with the former by narrow channels, and from the latter 
is entered across a rocky division known as Turtle Portage. This part 
of the lake is designated White-fish Lake, and has never, so far as I can 
learn, been properly examined or surveyed. Lac Plat, situated to the 
west of Clear-water Lake, may, though much smaller than the others, be 
counted a fourth division. It is, I believe, entered in one place without 
- unloading canoes, and also by several easy portages. It would appear 
to be shallow, merging into swamp westward, and is the great rice - 
ground of the Indians. The North-west Angle Inlet, is a narrow arm 
running westward from near the junction of Sand-hill and Clear-water 
Lakes. On it is situated the eastern terminus of the road from Winni- 
peg, and in connection with this there is a Government station for z 
immigrants. There is also a Post of the Hudson’s Bay Company, several 
traders’ houses, and usually a large camp of Indians. At Rainy River is 
another Government post, known as Hungry Hall, and between this 
place and the North-west Angle a steamer now plies regularly, forming 



- ett eae tlre eerste ail 

* A Chippewa word generally adopted to designate the wide grassy swamps of this region. 
