harmon's journal. 



167 



The country around is low, and the timber, like 

 that of the North West country generally, is small. 



Tuesday, 16. Pelican Lake. Most of the 

 day has been passed in crossing Lac Martin. 



Wednesday, 17. Portage du Forte de Traite, 

 or Trading Fort Portage. This was so named, 

 from a circumstance which occurred here, thirty 

 four years since. Mr. Joseph Frobisher and com- 

 pany, who were the first traders who ever came 

 into this quarter, here met a large band of Na- 

 tives, whose canoes were loaded with furs, which 

 they were taking to York Factory, at Hudson's 

 Bay. He succeeded in bartering his goods for 

 their furs, which amounted to more than he could 

 take to head quarters, the next season. He 

 therefore built a fort, and, with his people passed 

 several winters here ; and at that time, it was the 

 most northen post, belonging either to the North 

 West, or the Hudson Bay Company. 



All the waters from this side of the portage, pass 

 through Lake Winnipick, and finally fall into Hud- 

 son's Bay, at York Factory. But, on the other 

 side of the portage, which is about half a mile 

 over, the stream, which is called Mis-sin-ni-pi or 

 Great River, runs in a different direction, and en- 

 ters Hudson's Bay, at Churchill Factory, which is 

 the most northern post belonging to the Hudson 

 Bay Company. The river last mentioned, is call- 



