112 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



known except the south border, but its ex- 

 tent would lead us to conclude, that its 

 evaporation must be supplied by another 

 river to the northward, especially as the 

 small channel that communicates with Buf- 

 falo Lake is motionless. The existence of 

 such a river is asserted by the Indians, and 

 a shorter passage might be found by it 

 across the height of land to Clear Water 

 River, than the portage from the Methye 

 Lake. 



In Buffalo Lake, the wind was too strong 

 for us to proceed, and we therefore en- 

 camped upon a gravel beach thrown up by 

 the waves. We embarked at three A.M. 

 July 2d, and at four P.M. entered the 

 mouth of the Methye River. The lake is 

 thirty-four miles in length, and fourteen in 

 breadth. It is probably very deep, for we 

 saw no islands on this wide expanse, ex- 

 cept the borders. On the south-west side 

 were two forts, belonging to the Companies, 

 and near them a solitary hill, seven or eight 

 hundred feet high. At eight P.M. we en- 

 camped in the Methye River, at the conflu- 



