though scantily supplied with wood, are very picturesque, as will
appear from the annexed interesting sketch, by Mr. Hood, which
exhibits an accurate representation of our brigade, at the time of
passing through it.
Akaitcho caused himself to be paddled by his slave, a young man,
of the Dog-Bib nation, whom he had taken by force from his friends;
when he thought himself, however, out of reach of our observation,
he laid aside a good deal of his state, and assisted in the labour ; and
after a few days further acquaintance with us, he did not hesitate to
paddle in our presence, or even carry his canoe on the portages.
Several of the canoes were managed by women, who proved to be
noisy companions, for they quarrelled frequently, and the weakest
was generally profuse in her lamentations, which were not at all
diminished, when the husband attempted to settle the difference by
a few blows with his paddle.
An observation near the centre of the lake gave 114° 13' 39'' W.,
and 33° 58' 06" E., variation.
Leaving the lake, we ascended a very strong rapid, and arrived at
a range of three steep cascades, situated in the bend of the river.
Here we made a portage of one thousand three hundred yards over
a rocky hill, which received the name of the Bowstring Portage,
from its shape. We found that the Indians had greatly the advantage
of us in this operation ; the men carried their small canoes,
the women and children the clothes and provisions, and at the end
of the portage they were ready to embark ; whilst it was necessary
for our people to return four times, before they could transport the
weighty cargo with which we were burdened. After passing through
another expansion of the river, and over the Steep Portage of one
hundred and fifteen yards, we encamped on a small rocky isle, just
large enough to hold our party, and the Indians took possession of
an adjoining rock. We were now thirty miles from Fort Providence.
As soon as the tents were pitched, the officers and men were
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