of its extent in that direction. These men say there is a communication
from its eastern extremity by a chain of lakes, with a
shallow river, which discharges its waters into the sea. This stream
they call the Thlouee-tessy, and report it to be navigable for Indian
canoes only. The forms of the south and western shores are
better known from the survey of Sir Alexander Mackenzie, and
in consequence of the canoes having to pass and repass along
these borders annually, between Moose-Deer Island and Mackenzie’s
Eiver. Our observations made the breath of the lake, between
Stony Island, and the north main shore, sixty miles less than it
is laid down in Arrowsmith’s map; and there is also a considerable
difference in the longitude of the eastern side of the bay, which
we entered.
This lake, owing to its great depth, is seldom completely frozen
over before the last week in November, and the ice, which is generally
seven feet thick, breaks up about the middle of June, three weeks
later than that of the Slave Eiver. The only known outlet to this
vast body of water, which receives so many streams on its north and
south shores, is the Mackenzie’s Eiver.
August 3,—We embarked at three A.M. and proceeded to the
entrance of the Yellow-Knife Eiver of the traders, which is called by
the natives Beg-ho-lo-tessy; or, Eiver of the Toothless Fish. We
found Akaitcho, and the hunters with their families, encamped here.
There were also several other Indians of his tribe, who intended to
accompany us some distance into the interior. This party was
quickly in motion after our arrival, and we were soon surrounded by
a fleet of seventeen Indian canoes. In company with them we
paddled up the river, which is one hundred and fifty yards wide,
and, in an hour, came to a cascade of five feet, where we were compelled
to make a portage of one hundred and fifty-eight yards. We
next crossed a dilatation of the river, about six miles in length, upon
which the name of Lake Prosperous was bestowed. Its shores,