464 ASSINNIBOINE AND SASKATCHEWAN EXPEDITION. 



spectator. In the northern arm of the lake there are 

 several wooded islands, but as they were some distance 

 from our track I was unable to ascertain the nature of 

 their formation. 



There being two rapids between Cross Lake and the 

 Grand Bapid, the Saskatchewan may be said to descend by 

 four distinct steps from Cedar Lake to Lake Winnipeg ; the 

 first one east of Cross Lake, having a length of about ten 

 chains with an estimated fall of two and a half feet, occurs 

 half a mile below the recommencement of the channel 

 of the river, and appears to be attributable to a low and 

 nearly level belt of limestone, through which the river has 

 gradually excavated its way by three separate channels. 

 The middle channel, by which we descended the rapid is 

 only three to four chains wide, and could apparently be 

 ascended by a steamer without difficulty, as it is deep and 

 appears to be free from boulders. The other channels 

 might even be more favourable for steam navigation, being 

 broader as far as could be observed, and containing 

 a greater volume of water ; they are, however, a little out 

 of the direct course, and for this reason are not followed 

 by the boats. The smooth portions of the river are broad 

 here ; the width above the two islands formed by these 

 three channels being more than half a mile, and below 

 them upwards of three-quarters of a mile. About a mile 

 below the foot of the first rapid the second one begins. 

 Its length is fully a mile, and its approximate fall is not 

 more than seven and a half feet. It has a long gradual 

 slope, with a deep channel of rolling, but comparatively 

 unbroken water in the middle ; the water is more turbulent 

 at the sides, where the current is interrupted by points of 

 limestone rock, boulders, and debris. The exposures of 

 limestone on the points, are four to six feet in thickness 

 above the water, with a horizontal stratification. The 



