LAKE 



SUPERIOR 



AND WISCONSIN RIVE R. 



281 



took the trail for Trout Lake. The portage is an excellent one, about four miles 

 and a half long, and passes for some distance over a sandy plain supporting a few 

 scattering pines. The surface of the ground is literally covered with the winter- 

 green, and the general features of the landscape resemble very much those seen in the 

 neighbourhood of Lac Courte Oreille. About half way on the portage, we ascended 

 a hill of drift, between forty and fifty feet in height, with a great number of crystal- 

 line boulders and a few lara;e fragments of sandstone scattered over it. From the 

 top of this hill a range of highlands were seen in our rear, distant eight or ten miles, 

 bearing northeast and southwest. From their position and course, we judged them 

 to be a continuation of the range seen in ascending Lac du Flambeau River. The 

 drift continues on the Trout Lake. 



About one mile before reaching the lake, the river becomes very shallow, and is 

 so much obstructed by boulders as to require a portage to be made. There is an 

 Indian village at Trout Lake, Which is only occupied, however, during the summer 

 and fall months. They have gardens for corn and potatoes at this place, though 

 their principal dependence for food is upon the lake, which yields them a plentiful 

 supply of fine fish. We received from an Indian here a lot of very fine potatoes, a 

 most acceptable present, as more than two-thirds of the provisions we had brought 

 from La Pointe were consumed, and we had not yet performed more than one-third 

 of our journey. 



Trout Lake is seven or eight miles long by about four miles wide, and contains a 

 number of small islands. It is surrounded by drift hills, from twenty-five to forty 

 feet high, supporting a sparse growth of small pines and birch. Our course across 

 it was northeast, to a trail leading to Lower Rock Lake. We encamped on the 

 trail, a short distance from the lake. At six o'clock, r. m., the thermometer stood 

 at 31° Fah., and our tent and baggage, which had got wet in crossing the lake, 

 were frozen. 



September 30. Ice formed one-fourth of an inch thick last night. The portage 

 between Trout and Lower Rock Lakes is about two miles and a quarter in length, 

 and runs along the base of drift hills. These lakes are connected by a small stream, 

 not navigable for canoes. The Lower Lake is about half a mile in diameter. A 

 portage of three hundred yards leads to Upper Rock Lake, which is one mile in its 

 largest diameter, and contains a number of small islands. These lakes are also 

 connected by a small stream. They derive their name from the immense number 

 of boulders which line their shores, and show themselves above the water in the 

 shallow parts. The islands, in the upper one, are made up almost entirely of boul- 

 ders, with a thin soil covering them, and supporting a few small trees. Some very 

 large masses of syenitic granite, hornblende, and greenstone, with smaller ones of 

 amygdaloid, were seen near the east end. 



We had great difficulty in finding the portage from this lake. It begins on the 

 northeast shore, and is about two and a half miles long. Its course is nearly due 

 east, passing a good part of the distance along the margins of cranberry marshes. 

 Three small ponds were passed in the first two miles. They are connected by a 

 small stream flowing into Upper Rock Lake, which is navigable for canoes up 

 to the second pond. From this point a portage of everything lias to be made to 



