118 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



was only an exchange of tormentors : our 

 new assailant, the horse-fly, or bull-dog, 

 ranged in the hottest glare of the sun, and 

 carried off a portion of flesh at each attack. 

 Another noxious insect, the smallest, but 

 not the least formidable, was the sand-fly, 

 known in Canada by the name of the brulot. 

 To such annoyance all travellers must sub- 

 mit, and it would be unworthy to complain 

 of that grievance in the pursuit of know- 

 ledge, which is endured for the sake of 

 profit. This detail of it has only been as 

 an excuse for the scantiness of our observa- 

 tions on the most interesting part of the 

 country through which we passed. 



The north side of the Methye Portage is 

 in latitude 56° 41' 40" N. and longitude 

 109° 52' 0" W. It is, by our course, one 

 hundred and twenty-four miles from Isle h 

 la Crosse, and, considered as a branch of 

 the Missinippi, five hundred and ninety-two 

 miles from the Frog Portage. The Clear 

 Water River, passing through the valley 

 described above, evidently rises not far to 

 the eastward. The height, computed by 



