38 A General History of the Fur Trade. 



sistence ; game having become so scarce, that they depend- 

 ed principally for food upon fish, and wild riee which grows 

 spontaneously in these parts. 



This lake is irregular in its form, and its utmost extent 

 from East to West is fifteen miles ; a point of land, called 

 Point au Pin, jutting into it, divides it in two parts : it then 

 makes a second angle at the West end, to the lesser Portage 

 de Bois Blanc, two hundred paces in length. This channel 

 is not wide, and is intercepted by several rapids in the course 

 of a mile: it runs West-North-West to the Portage des 

 Pins, over which the canoe and lading is again carried four 

 hundred paces. From hence the channel is also intercepted 

 by ^ery dangerous rapids for two miles Westerly, to the 

 point of Pointe du Bois, which is two hundred and eighty 

 paces. Then succeeds the portage of Lake Croche one 

 mile more, where the carrying-place is eighty paces, and is 

 followed by an embarkation on that lake, which takes its 

 name from its figure. It extends eighteen miles, in a mean^ 

 dering form, and in a westerly direction ; it is in general 

 very narrow, and at about two-thirds of its length becomes 

 very contracted, with a strong current. 



Within three miles of the last Portage is a remarkable 

 rock, with a smooth face, but split and cracked in different 

 parts, which hang over the water. Into one of its horizon- 

 tal chasms a great number of arrows have been shot, which 

 is said to have been done by a war party of the Nadowasis 

 or Sieux, who had done much mischief in this country, and 

 left these weapons as a warning to the Chebois or natives, 

 that, notwithstanding its lakes, rivers, and rocks, it was not 

 inaccessible to their enemies. 



Lake Croche is terminated by the Portage de Rideau, 

 four hundred paces long, and derives its name from the 

 appearance of the water, falling over a rock of upwards of 

 thirty feet. Several rapids succeed, with intervals of still 

 water, for about three miles to the Falcon portage, which is 

 very difficult, is four hundred paces long, and leads to the 

 Lake of La Croix, so named from its shape. It runs about 

 North- West eighteen miles to the Beaver Dam, and then 

 sinks into a deep bay nearly East. The course to the Por- 

 tage is West by North for sixteen miles more from the Bea- 

 ver Dam, and into the East bay is a road which was fre- 

 quented by the French, and followed through lakes and ri- 

 vers until they came to Lake Superior by the river Camin- 

 istiquia, thirty miles East of the Grande Portage. 



