ADVANTAGES OF THE BASIN OF LAKE WINNIPEG. 233 



between South Lake and Gun Flint Lake, to the head 

 waters of Neepigon and Fire- steel Eivers. This would 

 form the eastern boundary of the new colony. From the 

 head water of Fire-steel Eiver, the north-east boundary 

 might follow the dividing ridge between the Basin of 

 Lake Winnipeg and Hudson's Bay, as far as Jack Eiver, 

 down which it should run to Play Green Lake. From 

 this point the northern boundary would be very con- 

 veniently and naturally described as passing through, by 

 the shortest course, the head waters of all the rivers 

 flowing into Lake Winnipeg, the main Saskatchewan, and 

 the North Branch of the Saskatchewan. 



It is of great importance in an Indian and fur- trading 

 country to possess a natural boundary. Indians and 

 voyageurs can always understand the flow of waters and 

 the term " dividing ridge," but of parallels of latitude they 

 know absolutely nothing. The injunction not to hunt or 

 trap beyond the dividing ridge would be understood by 

 all, but an arbitrary boundary such as a parallel of lati- 

 tude, might give rise to many disputes in the prosecution 

 of the fur trade, which for some years to come will con- 

 stitute the most important source of commerce and in- 

 dustry north of the basin of Lake Winnipeg. 



THE NATUEAL ADVANTAGES OF THE BASIN OF LAKE WIN- 

 NIPEG FOR A ROUTE ACROSS THE CONTINENT. 



It is impossible to examine a correct map of the North 

 American continent without being impressed with the re- 

 markable influence which the Great American Desert 

 must exercise upon the future of the United States and 

 British North America. The general character of this 

 desert south of the 49th. parallel is described elsewhere 

 (Ch. XLI. p. 353 ; Appendix Vol. II. No. VII.), and the 



