188 



Harmon's journal. 



portage, which is twelve miles over, through a 

 rough and hilly country. We leave our canoes 

 and take others, at the other end of the car- 

 rying place. 



From the great Slave Lake to this place, 

 there are few rapids, and only one fall; but at 

 several places, the current is very strong. Yes- 

 terday, we came up one of these places; and 

 and as our progress was very slow, I went on 

 shore alone, to walk along the beach. Having 

 proceeded some distance, I arrived at a place 

 which I could not pass, without making a con- 

 siderable turn into the # woods. I, therefore, left 

 the side of the river, and, after having walked 

 a mile or two, I fell upon a well beaten foot- 

 path, which I supposed would take me directly 

 to the fort. After I had followed it for several 

 miles, I perceived that it had been trodden by 

 wild animals, and was as I thought, leading me 

 in a different direction from that which I ought 

 to have taken. I was unwilling to retrace my 

 steps ; and I, therefore, proceeded in a different 

 direction, hoping soon to come to the river, far- 

 ther up than the place where I left it. I march- 

 ed a good pace, for a considerable time, through 

 the snow, eight inches in depth, until I found 

 myself in a swampy country, thickly wooded, 

 when the sun was just sinking below the hori- 



