low.] HEIGHT OF LAND. 9 D 



We ascended the tributary from the west six miles to a small lake, 

 which, being found partly frozen over, we were compelled to discon- 

 tinue our canoe voyage on October 23rd. A permanent camp was Winter eami>. 

 then formed, and Mr. Bignell joined us on November 4th, he having 

 been stopped by ice on the Peribonka, about fifteen miles from Lake 

 Onietagan. 



After making toboggans for the transport of provisions and outfit, 

 and as none of our party knew the route to Lake Mistassini, awaiting' 

 the arrival of a guide, we left the camp November 27th, and arrived 

 at the Height of Land December 9th. The route travelled follows the 

 branch, which Hows through a chain of large lakes lying between 

 ranges of low hills stretching from north to south. These hills have 

 an average elevation of not more than fifty feet above the water-level. 

 The land near the lakes, which cover the greater part of the surface 

 of the country, is of a swampy character, clad with a thick growth of 

 small black spruce and larch, and is wholly unfit for purposes of agri- 

 culture. The distance from the lake camp to the Height of Land is 

 about forty miles, course nearly west. The lakes are well stocked 

 with fish. Game is not abundant. Few ducks were seen on account 

 ■of the absence of proper feeding-grounds, and no traces of moose or 

 caribou were met with. 



On crossing the Height of Land, we descended about 300 feet in 



twelve miles to Lake Temiscamie, a long lake running north and Lake 



south, varying from one to three miles in width and very deep. An 



outpost from the Mistassini establishment was formerly located here 



by the Hudson Bay Company, but was abandoned some years back, 



as the Indians formerly trading here have either died or become 



accustomed to take their furs to Lake St. John for sale. 



Following: the Temiscamie Eiver flowing out of the lake, which pake . . 

 -r -Tt Mistassims. 



■empties through Lake Mistassinis (Little Mistassini) into the great 



lake, for a distance of six miles, we passed through a very crooked 



lake about four miles long, and then continued down the river six 



miles, where we followed a portage route two miles long, and thus 



reached the north-east end of Lake Mistassinis on December 13th. The 



general course from Lake Temiscamie to this point is west-north-west. 



The river continues almost parallel to the lake, and empties into it 

 on the east side about thirty miles from its north end, running out 

 again on the opposite side some distance farther north. 



Lake Mistassinis, or Little Mistassini, is about fifty miles from north- 

 east to south-west, lying parallel to the great lake, and is from one to 

 eight miles wide, six miles being near the average breadth. 



We passed down the east side to near the south-west end, where we Lake Mistassini 

 •crossed, and following a portage route through two small lakes about 



