Harmon's journal. 



169 



vers, otters, cats, &c. The country is low ; and 

 scarcely any mountains are to be seen. 



Tuesday, 30. East end of Portage la Loche, or 

 Loach Portage. This is so named, from a neigh- 

 bouring lake, where these fish are taken, in abun- 

 dance. This portage is twelve miles over; and 

 across it, the people are obliged to transport 

 both canoes and lading. The road, however, 

 is excellent, through a level country, thinly wood- 

 ed with cypress. In coming here from Isle la 

 Cross, we have passed two considerable lakes, 

 and come up a small river, which is between 

 those lakes. The country through which we 

 have passed, is generally level, and the soil 

 is tolerably good. The streams, before we 

 cross this portage, discharge themselves into 

 Hudson's Bay at Churchill Factory ; but after- 

 ward, the water, after passing through Athabasca, 

 Great Slave, and other lakes, enters the North 

 Sea. 



Saturday, September 3. North west end of 

 Portage la Locke. We here find a small band of 

 Chipewyans, who assist our people in trans- 

 porting our property across the portage, and 

 who supply us with provisions, which we very 

 much need, since our former stock is nearly ex- 

 hausted. 



About a mile from this end of the portage h 

 22 



