216 A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



velly soil and fewer trees ; so that the country has throughout a more 

 barren aspect. 



August 11. — Having caught sufficient trout, white fish, and carp, 

 yesterday and this morning, to afford the party two hearty meals, 

 and the men being recovered of their fatigue, we proceeded on our 

 journey, crossed the Upper Carp Portage, and embarked on the 

 lake of that name, where we had the gratification of paddling for ten 

 miles. We put up at its termination to fish, by the advice of our guide ? 

 and the following observations were then taken: longitude 113° 46' 

 35" W., variation of the compass 36° 45' 30" E., dip 87° 1 1' 48". At 

 this place we first perceived the north end of our dipping-needle to 

 pass the perpendicular line when the instrument was faced to the west. 



We had scarcely quitted the encampment next day before an Indian 

 met us, with the agreeable communication, that the hunters had 

 made several fires, which were certain indications of their having 

 killed rein-deer. This intelligence inspired our companions with 

 fresh energy, and they quickly traversed the next portage, and pad- 

 dled through the Rein-deer Lake ; at the north side of it we found 

 the canoes of our hunters, and learned from our guide, that the 

 Indians usually leave their canoes here, as the water-communication 

 on their hunting-grounds is bad. The Yellow-Knife River has now 

 dwindled into an insignificant rivulet, and we could not trace it be- 

 yond 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 statute miles. Though this river is of sufficient 

 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, 



