12 D ■>' i BBC \m> NOBTB K \8T TIBRITOBT. 



\i:i\ Lng determined the latitude of this point, we continued the sur- 

 vey to the north end, and thence back down the easl Bide, connecting 

 again with IfcOuat's Bnrvey :it the "Big Narrows." The distances 

 were measured with a Roohon micrometer, the angles with a trenail 

 theodolite, and frequenl ohsorvations for latitude were made with the 

 sextan! as a check on the scaling. ^ 



Eaving completed the survey of the lake, we returned to the Sod- 

 son Hay poBl July 22nd. Being Bhorl of provisions, in consequence of 

 one-half of our Bupply of pork having been Btolen by Indians from the 

 camp at Lake Ashouapmouchouan, I now determined to Bend my men 

 back to Lake St. John. 



Mr. Biacoun and myself remained at the post until the arrival of the 

 Eudson Hay Company's canoes from Ruperl Eouse, and had uncle 

 arrangements to descend the Ruperl River with them on their return 

 trip to James Bay. This delayed us till the 22nd of A.ugust 



Lakx Mjbtassini. 



The firsl person who has lefl any written account of his explorations 

 of Hake Mi-ta-sini was Pere Charles Aibanel, a Jesuit missionary, who 

 crossed it. in 1672, on his way from Lake St. John to Eudson Bay, 

 which he reached by descending the Rupert Rivor. 



The following account of his exploration is taken from the "Rela- 

 tions des Jesuits dans la Nbuvelle France," vol. iii, pp. 19-50, entitled 

 ■ Voyage de la Bier da Nbrd par terro, et la de*couverte de la Baie do 

 Eudson. Mission de Saint Francois-Xavier, en 1671 et 1672. Pere 

 Chas. Alhanel :"— 



■ l.e IS (June) nous entrasmes dans le grand Lac des Mistassirmins, 

 qu'on tient estre si grande qu'il faut vingt jours de beau temps poui' 

 en faire le tour. Ce Lac tire boh nom des rochers dont il esl remply, 

 qui .-out d'une prodigieuse grosseur; il y a quantity de tres hello- ilea 

 ■ In gibier, et dupoissons de toute espece, les orignaux, les our.-, lee 

 caribous, le pore-epic, et les castors y Bon1 en abondance. Nous avion* 

 deja fail -i\ lieufes an travers dos ilea qui I'entrecoupent, quand 

 j'aperceu comme one Eminence de terre d'aussi loin que la veue" se peut 

 estendre; jodemandaya nosgenssi e'estoil vers cot endroit qu'ils nous 

 falloitaller? 'Tais-toy,' me dit nostre guide, ' ne le regarde point, si tu 

 ne veux perir. 1 



"Les sauvages de toutes ces contrles B'imaginenl que quioonque 

 veal traverser ee Lie se doit Boigneusemenl garder de la curiosite* de 

 regarder cette route, et principalemenl le Ihui ou Ion doit aborder, son 

 -en I aspect, disent il- cause I'agitation des eaux, el forme des tempestes 

 qui fonl transir de frayeur les plus assurer." 



