1908.] 



EOUTES TRAVERSED-— MACKENZIE. 



99 



North of Yellowknife Ba}^ the canoe route passes through a network 

 of loAv rocky islands, folloAving closely the eastern shore. Grassy 

 inlets occur in man}^ places, and the stretch is a favorite l)re(Mrui(r 

 place for several species of ducks. Near the extremity of the North- 

 ern Arm, about 50 miles northwestward from YelloAvknife Ba}^, 

 stands Fort Eae (PI. IX, fig. 3). 



Fort Eae is situated on the Avestern extremity of a projecting point, 

 which was at one time an island, but which is now connected by a 

 marsh with the eastern shore of the Northern Arm.'^ Back of the post 

 the land rises rather abruptly and extends easterly in an elevated 

 ridge for several miles. Its southern face is capped by a limestone 

 clilf, below which a steep talus slope extends to the water. Most 

 of the timber^ originally of good size, has been removed for fuel, and 

 the ' Island Hill ' now presents a comparatively barren aspect, though 

 it is well covered Avith shrubby and herbaceous plants (PI. IX, fig. 

 2). It is remarkable as presenting the only exposure of limestone 

 which occurs on the eastern shore of the Northern Arm. To the Avest- 

 AA^ard extends the broad arm of the lake, clotted Avith a fcAV Avooded 

 islands, and bordered on the Avest side by an eleA^ated limestone 

 escarpment. 



Since Great SlaA^e Lake has already been described (p. 26), I aa'III 

 refer briefly to Hay RiA^er, Avhere a small collection Avas made in 1903, 

 and proceed Avith an account of the Mackenzie. The trading post of 

 Hay RiA^er (see PI. VIII, fig. 3) is situated at the mouth of the 

 stream of that name, Avhich enters Great Slave Lake about 60 

 miles soutliAvesterly from Fort Resolution. Here are located both 

 Church of England and Catholic missions. The shores of this 

 part of the lake are low and marshy, Avith grassy plains bordering 

 some of the streams. WestAvard from Hay RiA'er the Ioav shore con- 

 tinues to the vicinity of the Desmarais Islands, Point de Roche, a long 

 bowlder-strcAvn spit, being passed about 14 miles from Hay River. 

 Eagle Mountain, a long limestone ridge rising from the flat country 

 to the southwest, is a conspicuous landmark. Near the Desmarais 

 Islands the current of the outlet begins to be apparent. Big Island, 

 about 10 miles in length, Avith many smaller adjacent isles, lies in the 



Fort Eae was establisLed on its present site in 1S52, mainly as a provision 

 post. An abandoned post near the present site is tlius referred to by Rnssell : 

 " Two hnndred yards from the big house, on the shore of a little coA-e called 

 Sandy Bay, a few crumbling ruins of clay and stone chimneys mark the site 

 of an ' old fort,' abandoned so long ago that nothing is known by the present 

 inhabitants concerning it. Another fort once stood near the Big Point, twenty- 

 five miles south." (Expl. in Far North, p. 69, 1898.) 



A letter written by W. F. Wentzel from " Mountain Island, Great Slave 

 Lake," dated May 23, 1820 (Masson, Les Bourgeois, I, p. 125, 18S'V), would 

 seem to indicate an establishment near the present site of Fort li:u' ;U that 

 early date. Possibly this refers to the abandoned site referred to by lUissell. 



