lxxxiv
But wC muft now renewtheprogrefsof the route» \i It, is not more
than two miles from M©
forms a cheek o f that part of the lake called the Riviere Creufe, which
preferves the breadth already mentioned far upwards o f twenty miles;
then contraSs to‘about two, for^die diftance ©fhepjiniksiKnore» when it
©pens to Lake Clear, which is very wide,-andiEommands an t^en hdtizoni
keeping the Weft fhore for fix miles. The whole o f the,diltance mentioned
fe about North-Weft# wfaenpby a narrow^iorookei chasms!* turning
to the5 South of Weft, the entryJs^made into Lake du Boetof#^hkbjis
confrafted near the middle, by a projecting Tandy point- independent o f
which it may be defcribed as from fix to twdve^mfles in breadth# ihirtyr
fix miksJong# and in a
end, in latitude 56. 8. it receives the waters <©£ the riverdaLb(^e^v\which,
in the fall of the year, is wrpdhallow, and navigated-wthr diffieidty
even by half-laden canoes. Its water is not lufficient -to form ftrong
rapids, though from its rocky bottom the canoes are frequently imcon-
fiderable danger. Including its meanders, the cohrfe o f this rivermay
be computed at twenty-four tail^j and receives its firft waters from the
lake Of the'fame name, whfchis^fljdtft twenty milis long, and fix wide;,
into which a finall river flows, fuffieient to b ea r loaded caribeSy for
about a mile and an half, where' the navigation eeafes:; and the canoes,
with their lading, ape carried over the Rortage la Loche for thirteen
miles.
This portage is the ridge that divides the Waters -which dilcharge them-
felves into Hudfon’s -Bay, from thofe that flow info the -Northern ocean,
and is in the latitude 56,20. and longitude 109.15. Weft,- It runs South
Weft
Weftfu^iH'tri^fe^ilss-io^ height between Itfci^aïkatehiwme and Elk
Riveiïg die? hankTOf^'Ae iarruer#- in- iMitude ggi 36. North, and
longitude i:£g. 4@JWeft:;it mayjb'e traced -impn Eaflerly adire^ion toward
latitude'^«1 l èirNoith, and ska^budé ^as|^r=W'ei;# when it appears to
take its kourfe due uNorth, and »may probably teach ;the Frozen Seas.
From Lake - le ,Souris.*; thef bankSoofsthef ivers aryl lakes difplay a
ftoaHeraportion. ó f folid roekv The laod is few and ftSdyjHntermixed
with-a flight, and clbthed: witk wood. That- of the Beaver
bót no: pafct ©fr it has ever been
cultivated by i the, natives on Enropeans# except a finaH garden at the
Hie .n Ia Groflèi which well repaid the labour bellowed upon ifc
a Tbe Portage' laaLoehe is o f a le\^kiurfaee,:’ *n: fame parts abounding
with iftoixesv huirin» generaLSt: is an entire fand, aifd: covered with the
Cyprefs3;the pine, the fpruce ikyand other trees natural to its foik -.With-i
in three miles; idf. the. North-Weft termiHation»sfthereiis a final! Pound
kfep,4wbofe dlakleter does -not exceeds mÖe,:'aM: which affbrds a t*i&
ling refpke to the kbourrof .carrying,{«’WitHima mile o f the termination,
©! the Bortage;.is :a^weryifteep-iprëeipke, afeent afid dsfeefi*
appear&tb be equaHyimpraftkablein any twky, asdfcietwiiftfts- of afueceL
fion of sight hillsi fe®dè of ^ k h i dre almoft perpendicular; neverthelds$
the Canadians'eöntriveHö farmount all thefe difficulties,[even with fheir
eanbes and lading.
'i ï This ipreeipke, which rifesiupwards o f a thoufend feet above ..the'pldin
beneath it# comihamds a moft.extenfivd, romantic* and ihvilmng! |)Pólpêa.
From