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4 Journal of a Voyage through the 



one, or the channel, affords by far the best passage, as it 

 is without hazard of any kind, though I believe a shorter 

 course would be found on the outside of the islands, and 

 without so many carrying places. That called the Moun- 

 tain is three hundred and thirty-five paces in length from 

 thence to the next, named the Pelican, there is about a 

 mile of dangerous rapids. The landing is very steep, and 

 close to the fall. The length of this carrying-place is eight 

 hundred and twenty paces. 



The whole of the party were now employed in taking the 

 baggage and the canoe up the hill. One of the Indian ca- 

 noes went down the fall, and was dashed to pieces. The 

 woman who had the management of it, by quitting it in 

 time, preserved her life, though she lost the little property 

 it contained. 



The course from the place we quitted in the morning is 

 about North- West, and comprehends a distance of fifteen 

 miles. From hence to the next and last carrying-place, is 

 about nine miles ; in which distance there are three rapids : 

 course North-West by West. The carrying path is very 

 bad, and five hundred and thirty-five paces in length. Our 

 canoes being lightened, passed on the outside of the oppo- 

 site island, which rendered the carrying of the baggage 

 very short indeed, being not more than the length of a ca- 

 noe. In the year 1786, five men were drowned, and two 

 canoes and some packages lost, in the rapids on the other 

 side of the river, which occasioned this place to be called 

 the Portage des Noyes, They were proceeding to the Slave 

 Lake, in the fall of that year, under the direction of Mr. 

 Cuthbert Grant. We proceeded from hence six miles, and 

 encamped on Point de Roche, at half ^past fiye in the af- 

 ternoon. The men and Indians were very much fatigued ; 

 but the hunters had provided seven geese, a beaver, and 

 four ducks. 



Saturday 6. We embarked at half past two in the'morn- 

 ingj and steered North-West by North twenty-one miles, 

 North- West by West five miles, West-North-West four 

 miles, West six miles, doubled a point North-North-East 

 one mile, East five miles, North two miles, North-West 

 by North one mile and a half, West-North- West three 

 miles, North-East by East two miles, doubled a point one 

 mile and a half, West by North nine miles, North-West 

 by West six miles, North-North- West five miles ; here 

 we landed at six o'clock in the evening, unloaded, and en- 



