96 



NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. 



[no. 27, 



of 'the salt used throughout the north is procured here. Near the 

 mouth of the stream stand several houses, some of which are occu- 

 pied by members of the celebrated Beaulieu family." About 3 miles 

 below Salt Eiver we reach the Grand Detour, where the river turns 

 sharply to the left, then bends again to the right and almost regains 

 the place where its course was deflected. Around this bend the river 

 follows a course of about 16 miles, which can be avoided b}^ a portage 

 across the base of the peninsula which is thus formed. About 14 

 miles below. Point Brule is passed, and about 30 miles beyond, Point 

 Ennuyeux, where the river again doubles on itself as at the Grand 

 Detour. Along this part of the river the banks are rather low, and 

 mau}^ low, sandy islands occur. These islands, because of changes in 

 the currents, are continually altering their shape, and some are traA^l- 

 ing slowly doAvnstream, being worn away at the upper end, and added 

 to below by the sediment-laden Avaters. The higher islands are well 

 wooded with spruces, poplars, and willows, the several species usually 

 being disposed in belts, with the evergreens on the higher part of the 

 island. (See PI. VII, fig. 3.) 



About 6 miles ])elow Point Ennuyeux a low broad point showing 

 scattered fragments of limestone is passed on the right, and just below. 

 Six Mile Island — low. narrow, and wooded^ — is separated from the 

 eastern bank by a narrow channel. Gradually the banks become 

 lower, and some 25 miles beyond the McConnell Islands are passed. 

 A few miles below them Ave reach the head of the delta, where 

 Riviere au Jean, one of the main outlets, turns toward the eastward, 

 while the larger branch follows a general northerly course to Great 

 Slave Lake, inclosing many Ioav islands. The alluvial banks on the 

 lower Slave are constantly being cut aAvay and the uprooted trees 

 precipitated into the stream, (PI. VII, fig. 2.) Two or three miles 

 above the lake, below a moderately high cut bank on the left, a narrow 

 channel, locally called a ' schney,' Avith a fairly strong current, turns 

 abruptly to the AvestAvard and affords the easiest course to Fort Reso- 

 lution. After folloAving its Avincling course for 3 or 4 miles, we enter 

 a shallow ba}^, sej)arated from the main lake by several wooded 

 islands, and passing through a short narrow channel between Mission 

 Island and the mainland, reach the lake Avithin sight of Fort Resolu- 

 tion. 



« Petitot states that the half-breed family Beaulieu had already settled at 

 Salt River AA^hen Peter Pond penetrated to Great SlaAe Lake in 1780 and that 

 one of them, Jacques, acted as his interpreter. EA'er since that time some 

 members of the Beaulieu family seem to have continuously occupied that sta- 

 tion. Francois Beaulieu, a nephew of Jacques, was a guide and hunter to 

 Franklin's expedition about Great Bear Lake in 1825-26. Mr. MacFarlane 

 informs me that from 1857 until his death in 1872, Francois Beaulieu traded 

 fur and gathered salt for the Hudson's Bay Company at Salt River. After his 

 death, his son Joseph continued trading until 1874, when Fort Smith was 

 established. 



