58 ACROSS THE SUB-ARCTICS OF CANADA. 
being shrewd, intelligent fellows. From one old hunter 
in particular, named Sharlo, we obtained interesting 
sketch-maps of canoe routes leading northward from 
Lake Athabasca. Of course tea and tobacco had been 
served out before such information was sought, for no 
man of any experience would think of approaching an 
Indian for the purpose of obtaining a favor without first 
having conferred one. Our object accomplished, canoes 
were again launched, and the struggle with the east 
wind was renewed. Though we travelled until 10.30 at 
night we made only 16.4 knots during the day, as indi- 
cated by the boat’s log; and then in the mouth of the 
Fishing River we found a sheltered nook in the thick . 
woods for a camping-ground. 
The next day, the high wind continuing and rain 
falling freely, the lake was too rough for us to venture 
out. A collection of all the many varieties of plants 
occurring in the vicinity was carefully made. Nets 
were set out, and some fine fish taken; trolls were also 
used with fair’ success, and with my revolver, much to 
the amusement of the party, I shot and killed Some 
distance under water a fine large pike. <A few geese 
were seen also, but none could be secured. 
On the following morning, though it was still raining, 
the wind had fallen, and we were able to go ahead. 
Because of the wet we had great difficulty in using our 
surveying instruments and in making notes. During 
the forenoon while ashore at Cypress Point, a long 
sand-beach timbered with jack-pine woods, and extend- 
ing a mile or more out into the lake, we observed a sail 
not far ahead. A sail-boat in these waters was an un- 
usual sight, but on this occasion we were able to guess 
