458 ASSINNIBOINE AND SASKATCHEWAN EXPEDITION. 



we breakfasted at the Eabbit Point, and entered the por- 

 tion of the Saskatchewan issuing from the east end of the 

 lake about noon. 



Cedar Lake (so called from the occasional groves of 

 cedar — a tree rarely seen in Eupert's Land — growing 

 on its shores, particularly at its western extremity) is an 

 expanse of water of considerable extent, in which the tur- 

 bid waters of the Saskatchewan are allowed to disseminate 

 and settle before re-uniting into one great river and rush- 

 ing clown the Grand Eapid into Lake Winnipeg. It is 

 situated in about 53° 15' N. latitude, and 100° W. longi- 

 tude ; and is nearly thirty miles long, with a breadth at 

 its widest part of about twenty-five miles ; its coast line 

 embracing an area of water of about 312 square miles. 

 Cedar Lake being more than sixty feet higher than Lake 

 Winnipeg, is consequently upwards of 688 feet above the 

 sea level. The only tributary it has of any size, besides 

 its principal feeder the Saskatchewan, is a branch leading 

 from Moose Lake and House, which enters it from the 

 north. I was unable to obtain soundings of the lake in 

 consequence of the high winds and stormy weather that 

 prevailed during our voyage through it, but so far as I 

 could learn it has sufficient depth of water for the largest 

 craft, except at the west end, where the Saskatchewan is 

 rapidly filling it up. 



The northern coast of Cedar Lake is deeply indented 

 and very low, and the country continues flat for a long 

 distance back. At some of the points and on many of 

 the islands along the coast, there are exposures of lime- 

 stone in horizontal beds, the top of the strata being a few 

 feet above the surface of the lake. It is to be regretted 

 that, owing to the stormy weather, and the rate at which 

 we were obliged to travel, no opportunity was afforded 

 for collecting specimens. The mainland and islands being 



