A General History of the Fur Trade, 



23 



which the canoe and lading are carried two hundred and 

 seventy-four paces ; and very difficult it is for the former. 

 The river is here barred by a ridge of black rocks, rising 

 in pinnacles and covered with wood, which, from the small 

 quantity of soil that nourishes it, is low and stinted. The 

 river finds its way over and through these rocks, in numer- 

 ous channels, falling fifteen feet and upwards. From hence 

 two trips are made through a serpentine channel, formed 

 by the rocks, for several miles, when the current slackens, 

 and is accordingly called the Lake des Chats. At the chan- 

 nels of the grand Calumet, which are computed to be at the 

 distance of eighteen miles, the current recovers its strength, 

 and proceeds to the Portage Dufort, which is two hundred 

 and forty-five paces long; over which the canoe and bag- 

 gage are transported. From hence the current becomes 

 more rapid, and requires two trips to the Decharge des Sa- 

 bles, * where the goods are carried one hundred and thirty- 

 five paces, and the canoe towed. Then follows the Moun- 

 tain Portage, where the canoe and lading are also carried 

 three hundred and eighty-five paces ; then to the Decharge 

 of the Derige, where the goods are carried two hundred 

 and fifty paces ; and thence to the grand Calumet. This is 

 the longest carrying-place in this river, and is about two 

 thousand and thirty-five paces. It is a high hill or moun- 

 tain. From the upper part of this Portage the current is 

 steady, and is only a branch of the Utawas River, which 

 joins the main channel, that keeps a more Southern course, 

 at the distance of twelve computed leagues. Six leagues 

 further it forms Lake Coulonge, which is about four leagues 

 in length : from thence it proceeds through the channels of 

 the AUumettes to the Decharge, where part of the lading is 

 taken out, and carried three hundred and forty-two paces. 

 Then succeeds the Portage des AUumettes, which is but 

 twenty-five paces, over a rock difficult of access, and but a 

 very short distance from the Decharge. From Portage de 

 Chenes to this spot, is a fine deer-hunting country, and the 

 land in many parts very fit for cultivation. From hence the 

 river spreads wide, and is full of islands, with some current 

 for seven leagues, to the beginning of Riviere Creuse, or 

 Deep River, which runs in the form of a canal, about a 



* The place where the goods alone are carried, is called a Decharge? 

 and that where goods and canoes are both transported, overland, is deno- 

 minated a Portage. 



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