ridges of rock which cross the channel, and require the boat to be
lifted over them. In the afternoon we passed through a shallow
piece of water overgrown with bulrushes, and hence named Hairy
Lake ; and, in the evening, encamped on the banks of Blackwater
Creek, by which this lake empties itself into Sea River; having come
during the day twenty miles and three quarters.
On the morning of the 5th, we entered Sea River, one of the many
branches of Nelson River. It is about four hundred yards wide, and
its waters are of a muddy white colour. After ascending the stream
for an hour or two, and passing through Carpenter’s Lake, which is
merely an expansion of the river to about a mile in breadth, we came
to the Sea River Portage, where the boat was launched across a
smooth rock, to avoid a fall of four or fiye feet. Re-embarking at the
upper end of the portage, we ran before a fresh gale through the remainder
of Sea River, the lower part of Play Green Lake, and entering
Little Jack River, landed and pitched our tents. Here there
is a small log-hut, the residence of a fisherman, who supplies Norway
House with trout and sturgeon. He gave us a few of these fish,
which afforded an acceptable supper. Our voyage this day was
thirty-four miles.
October 6.—Little Jack River is the name given to a channel that
winds among several large islands which separate Upper and Lower
Play Green Lakes. At the lower end of this channel, Big Jack
River, a stream of considerable magnitude, falls into the lake. Play
Green is a translation of the appellation given to that lake by two
bands of Indians, who met and held a festival on an island situated
near its centre. After leaving our encampment we sailed through
Upper Play Green Lake, and arrived at Norway Point in the
forenoon.
The waters of Lake Winipeg, and of the rivers that run into it,
the Saskatchawan in particular, are rendered turbid by the suspension
of a large quantity of white clay. Play Green Lake and Nelson
River, being the discharges of the Winipeg, are equally opaque, a
circumstance that renders the sunken rocks, so frequent in these
waters, very dangerous to boats in a fresh breeze. Owing to this, one
of the boats that accompanied us, sailing at the rate of seven miles an
hour, struck upon one of these rocks. Its mast was carried away by
the shock, but fortunately no other damage sustained. The Indians
ascribe the muddiness of these lakes to an adventure of one of their
deities, a mischievous fellow, a sort of Robin Puck, whom they hold
in very little esteem. This deity, who is named Weesakootchaht,
possesses considerable power, hut makes a capricious use of it, and
delights in tormenting the poor Indians. He is not, however, invincible,
and was foiled in one of his attempts by the artifice of an old
woman, who succeeded in taking him captive. ' She called in all the
women of the tribe to aid in his punishment, and he escaped from
their hands in a condition so filthy that it required all the waters of
the Great Lake to wash him clean; and ever since that period it has
been entitled to the appellation of Winipeg, or Muddy water.
Norway Point forms the extremity of a narrow peninsula which
separates Play Green and Winipeg Lakes. Buildings were first
erected here by a party of Norwegians, who were driven away from
the colony at Red River by the commotions which took place some
time ago. It is now a trading post belonging to the Hudson’s Bay
Company. On landing at Norway House we met with Lord Selkirk’s
colonists, who had started from York Factory the day before us.—
These poor people were exceedingly pleased at meeting with us again
in this wild country ; having accompanied them across the Atlantic,
they viewed us in the fight of old acquaintances. This post was
under the charge of Mr. James Sutherland, to whom I am indebted
for replacing a minute-hand on the chronometer, which was broken
at the White Fall, and I afterwards had the satisfaction of finding
that it went with extraordinary regularity.
The morning of the 7th October was beautifully clear, and the