46 



A General History of the Fur Trade. 



any attempts have been made to raise the esculent plants, &c. 

 it has been found productive. 



On these waters are three principal forts for trade. Fort 

 Dauphin, which was established by the French before the 

 conquest. Red- Deer- River, and Swan-River Forts, with 

 occasional detached posts from these. The inhabitants are 

 the Knisteneaux, from the North of Lake Winipic ; and 

 Algonquins, from the country between the Red River and 

 Lake Superior; and some from the Rainy Lake: but as 

 they are not fixed inhabitants, their number cannot be deter- 

 mined : they do not, however, at any time exceed two hun- 

 dred warriors. In general they are good hunters. There 

 is no other considerable river except the Saskatchiwine, 

 which I shall mention presently, that empties itself into the 

 Lake Winipic. 



Those on the North side are inconsiderable, owing to 

 the comparative vicinity of the high land that separates the 

 waters coming this way, from those discharging into Hud- 

 son's Bay. The course of the lake is about West- North- 

 West, and South-South-East, and the East end of it is in 

 50. 37. North. It contracts at about a quarter of its length 

 to a strait, in latitude 51. 45. and is no more than two miles 

 broad, where the South shore is gained through islands, and 

 crossing various bays to the discharge of the Saskatchiwine, 

 in latitude 53. 15. This lake, in common with those of this 

 country, is bounded on the North with banks of black and 

 grey rock, and on the South by a low, level country, occa- 

 sionally interrupted by a ridge or bank of lime-stones, lying- 

 in strata, and rising to the perpendicular height of from 

 twenty to forty feet j these are covered with a small quan- 

 tity of earth, forming a level surface, which bears timber, 

 but of a moderate growth, and declines to a swamp. Where 

 the banks are low, it is evident in many places that the wa- 

 ters are withdrawn, and never rise to those heights which 

 were formerly washed by them. 



The inhabitants who are found along this lake, are of the 

 Knisteneaux and Algonquin tribes, and but few in number, 

 though game is not scarce, and there is fish in great abun- 

 dance. The black bass is found there, and no further West ; 

 and beyond it no maple trees are seen, either hard or soft. 



On entering the Saskatchiwine, in the course of a few 

 miles, the great rapid interrupts, the passage. It is about 

 three miles long. Through the greatest part of it the canoe 

 is towed, half or full laden, according to the state of the 



