L0 «.] BETSIAMITES RIVER. 1 I> 



Next turning to the north-cast, the river, for a distance of eight miles, 

 breaks in a straight line through the Labradorite hills, which form 

 almost vertical walls on either side, rising from two to lour hundred 

 feet above the water, and producing the finest scenery mel with on this 

 route. Above this is Lake Pipmuakin, which was reached August 

 25th. and is distant by the river 135 miles from the sea. 



This lake is very irregular in shape, being full of deep bays, and Lake^ ^ 

 has an area of over 100 square miles. The Betsiamites Eiver flows 

 through it on the east side, the distance between inlet and outlet being- 

 nine miles. Several other smaller rivers and numerous brooks also 

 empty into the lake. 



The shores of the lake are principally low, but in places are rocky, 

 and rise in elevations of one to two hundred feet above the water, the 

 whole being covered with a fair growth of white spruce, balsam-spruce 

 and white birch. 



The waters of the lake and the Betsiamites River are well stocked 

 with fish, the principal kinds being lake- and river-trout, white-fish, 

 pike and sucker, and below the first fall of the river, salmon and sea- 

 trout. 



Mi-. Bignell having arrived at this lake on September 10th, the party Arriva] ,,,- 

 iva- again divided, Mr. Bignell, with two canoes and four men, going Mr - B,gne11, 

 by the Betsiamites River to Lake Manouan, by way of Lake Manouanis, 

 while I. with five canoes and eight men, proceeded to the same point 

 by a portage route to the Manouan River, and up that river to the 

 lake. 



Leaving Mr. Bignell, September 15th, we proceeded by a bay run- 

 ning to the north-west, to Pipmuakin River, a small stream discharging 

 into the lake at the head of the bay, and distant twenty miles from the 

 outlet. In crossing the lake, we were much delayed by wind, and did 

 not reach the river until the 19th. 



Having proceeded up the Pipmuakin River, through low. swampy 

 country, a distance of twelve miles, the general course being N. 15° W., River, 

 we left it. and, passing over four portages and three smaller lakes,) the 

 total distance being five miles, direction north-west,) we reached a 

 small lake called Otashoao, which discharges, by a small rive]' two miles 

 long, into the Manouan River. This river is a branch of the Peribonka, 

 Avhich flows into Lake St. John, and takes its rise in Lake Manouan. 



At the point where we entered it has a breadth of 200 yards. Pro- 

 ceeding up the river a distance of sixteen miles, course N. 20° W., a 

 fall of fifty feci was reached. The stream below this flows with a slow 

 current, varied by several short rapids, and passes through hills with 

 from two to four hundred feet elevation, the whole having been burned 

 over by frequent fires. 



