172 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



The Yellow-Knife River had now dwindled 

 into an insignificant rivulet, and we could 

 not trace it beyond the next lake, except as 

 a mere brook. The latitude of its source 

 64° 1' 30" N., longitude 113° 36' W., and 

 its length is one hundred and fifty-six sta- 

 tute miles. Though this river is of suffi- 

 cient breadth and depth for navigating in 

 canoes, yet I conceive its course is too 

 much interrupted by cascades and rapids 

 for its ever being used as a channel for the 

 conveyance of merchandise. Whilst the 

 crews were employed in making a portage 

 over the foot of Prospect Hill, we ascended 

 to the top of it, and as it is the highest 

 ground in the neighbourhood, its summit, 

 which is about five hundred feet above the 

 water, commands an extensive view. 



Akaitcho, who was here with his family, 

 pointed out to us the smoke of the distanl 

 fires which the hunters had made. The 

 prospect is agreeably diversified by an in- 

 termixture of hill and valley, and the ap- 

 pearance of twelve lakes in different direc- 

 tions. On the borders of these lakes a few 



