36 A General History of the Fur Trade. 



where the waters exf the Dove or Pigeon River terminate, 

 and which is one of the sources of the great St. Laurence 

 in this direction. Having carried the canoe and lading over ' 

 it, six hundred and seventy-nine paces, they embark on the 

 lake of Hauteur de Terre,* which is in the shape of an 

 horse-shoe. It is entered near the curve, and left at the ex- 

 tremity of the Western limb, through a very shallow chan- 

 nel, where the canoe passes half loaded for thirty paces with 

 the current, which conducts these waters through the suc- 

 ceeding lakes and rivers, and disembogues itself, by the river 

 Nelson, into Hudson's Bay. The first of these is Lac de 

 Pierres a Fusil, running West-South- West seven miles long, 

 and two wide, and, making an angle at North- West one 

 mile more, becomes a river for half a mile, tumbling over a 

 rock, and forming a fall and portage, called the Escalrer, of 

 fifty-five paces ; but from hence it is neither lake or river, 

 but possesses the character of both, and runs between large 

 rocks, which cause a current or rapid, for about two miles 

 and an half, West- North- West, to the portage of the Che- 

 val du Bois. Here the canoe and contents are carried three 

 hundred and eighty paces, between rocks ; and within a 

 quarter of a mile is the Portage des Gros Pins, which is six 

 hundred and forty paces over an high ridge. The opposite 

 side of it is washed by a small lake three miles round ; and 

 the course is through the East end or side of it, three quar- 

 ters of a mile North-East, where there is a rapid. An ir- 

 regular, meandering channel, between rocky banks, then 

 succeeds, for seven miles and an half, to the Maraboeuf 

 Lake, which extends North four miles, and is three quarters 

 of a mile wide, terminating by a rapid and decharge, of one 

 hundred and eighty paces, the rock of Saginaga being in 

 sight, which causes a fall of about seven feet, and a portage 

 of fifty-five paces. 



Lake Saginaga takes its name from its numerous Islands. 

 Its greatest length from East to West is about fourteen 8 miles, 

 with very irregular inlets, is no where more than three miles 

 wide, and terminates at the small portage of Le Roche, of 

 forty-three paces. From thence is a rocky, stony passage 

 of one mile, to Priarie Portage, which is very improperly 



* The route which we have been travelling hitherto, leads along the 

 high rocky land or bank of Lake Superior on the left- The face of the 

 country offers a wild scene of huge hills and rocks, separated by stony vai- 

 lies, lakes, and ponds. Wherever there is the least soil, it is well covered 

 with trees. 



