42 



A General History of the Fur Trade, 



causing various channels and interruptions of portages and 

 rapids. In some parts it has the appearance of lakes, with 

 steady currents ; I estimate its winding course to the Dalles 

 eight miles ; to the Grande Dexharge twenty-five miles and 

 an half, which is a long carrying-place for the goods ; from 

 thence to the little Decharge one mile and an half; to the 

 Terre Jaune Portage two miles and an half; then to its ga- 

 let seventy yards ; two miles and three quarters to the Terre 

 Blanche, near which is a fall of from four to five feet ; three 

 miles and an half to Portage de L'Isle, where there is a 

 trading-post, and, about eleven miles, on the North shore, 

 a trading establishment, which is the road, in boats, to Al- 

 bany River, and from thence to Hudson's Bay. There is 

 also a communication with Lake Superior, through what is 

 called the Nipigan country, which enters that Lake about 

 thirty-five leagues East of the Grande Portage. In short, 

 the country is so broken by lakes and rivers, that people may 

 find their way in canoes in any direction they please. It is 

 now four miles to Portage de L'Isle, which is but short, 

 though several canoes have been lost in attempting to run 

 the rapid. From thence it is twenty-six miles to Jacob's 

 Falls, which are about fifteen feet high ; and six miles and 

 an half to the woody point ; forty yards from which is ano- 

 ther Portage. They both form an high fall, but not perpen- 

 dicular. From thence to another galet, or rocky Portage, 

 is about two miles, which is one continual rapid and cascade ; 

 and about two miles further is the Chute a l'Esclave, which 

 is upwards of thirty feet. The Portage is long, through a 

 point covered with wood : it is six miles and an half more 

 to the barrier, and ten miles to the Grand Rapid. From 

 thence, on the North side, is a safe road, when the waters 

 are high, through small rivers and lakes, to the Lake du 

 Bonnet, called the Pinnawas, from the man who discover- 

 ed it : to the White River, so called from its being, for a 

 considerable length, a succession of falls and cataracts, is 

 twelve miles. Here are seven portages, in so short a space, 

 that the whole of them are discernible at the same moment. 

 From this to Lake du Bonnet is fifteen miles more, and four 

 miles across it to the rapid. Here the Pinnawas road joins, 

 and from thence it is two miles to the Galet du Lac du Bon- 

 net ; from this to the Galet du Bonnet one mile and an half ; 

 thence to the Portage of the same name is three miles. This 

 Portage is near half a league in length, and derives its name 

 from a custom the Indians have of crowning stones, laid in a 



