OF THE FUR TRADE,: &c. ea.

the map; and if the navigation of the Mififippi is confidered as of
any confequence, by this country, from that part of the globe, fuch is
the neareft way to get at it.

But to return to our narrative. The Lake du Bois is, as far as I
could learn, nearly round, and the canoe courfe through the centre
of it among a clufter of iflands, fome of which are fo extenfive that
they may be taken for the main land. The reduced courfe would be
nearly South and North. But following the navigating courfe, I make
the diftance feventy-five miles, though in a direét line it would fall
very fhort of that length. At about two-thirds of it there is a {mall
carrying-place, when the water is low. The carrying-place out of the
lake is on an ifland, and named Portage du Rat, in latitude 49. 37. North
and longitude 94%. Well, it is about fifty paces long. The lake difcharges
itfelf at both ends of this ifland, and forms the River Winipic, which
is a large body of water, interfperfed with numerous iflands, caufing
various channels and interruptions of portages and rapids. In fome
parts it has the appearance of lakes, with fleady currents; I eflimate
its winding courfe to the Dalles eight miles; to the Grand Dé-
charge twenty-five miles and an half, which is a long carrying-place for
the goods; from thence to the little Decharge one mile and an half;
to the Terre Jatine Portage two miles and an half; then to its galet
feventy yards; two miles and three quarters to the Terre Blanche, near
which is a fall of from four to five feet; three miles and an half to Por-
tage de L’Ifle, where there is a trading-poft, and, about eleven miles,
on the North fhore, a trading eftablifhment, which is the road, in boats,

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