74 



RED RIVER EXPLORING EXPEDITION. 



willows for about three miles. The canoe route then takes 

 a winding course, whose general direction is nearly due 

 north for a distance of two and a half miles, when turning 

 westward we suddenly arrive at the open and beautiful, 

 but indescribably barren and desolate region of Eainy 

 Lake. 



The canoe route followed by the North- West Company, 

 commonly called the Pigeon River route, joins the chain 

 of communication which has just been described in Ne- 

 quauquon Lake ; from this point they both pursue the 

 same course by the Winnipeg to Red River. The diffi- 

 culties of the Grand Portage induced the North- West 

 Company to establish their chief depot at Fort Charlotte, 

 nine miles west of Grand Portage Bay. Fort Charlotte was 

 connected with Point des Meurons by a traveled road in 

 the time of the North -West Company, but owing to 

 neglect and the diversion of traffic, it has long been 

 choked up with young trees, and now only serves as an 

 Indian path. There is also an old cart road between 

 Point des Meurons and White Fish Lake, which is close 

 to Arrow Lake. 



In 1858 I took the expedition under my charge by 

 the Pigeon River route, with a view to compare its 

 facilities with those of the more northern communication 

 by the Kaministiquia. The following brief notes of this 

 route will complete the description of the available water 

 communications between Lake Superior and Rainy Lake 

 within British territory. 



The Grand Portage made to overcome the falls of 

 Pigeon River, 120 feet high, has been often cited as the 

 chief obstruction to the Pigeon River route. Its length 

 is eight miles fifteen chains. The road is dry, and in 

 comparison with some of the portages on the Kaminis- 

 tiquia route, in good condition. It is passable for an ox 



