NORTH-WEST CONTINENT OF AMERICA.

The night was very boifterous, and the rain did not ceafe till two in
the afternoon of this day; but as the wind did not abate of its violence,

we were prevented from proceeding till the morrow.

We embarked at half paft two in the morning, the weather being calm
and foggy. Soonafter our two young men joined us, whom we had not
feen for two days; but during their abfence they had killed four
beavers and ten geefe. After a courfe of one mile North-Weft
by North, we obferved an opening on the right, which we took
for a fork of the river, but it proved to be a lake. We returned and
fteered South-Weft by Weft one mile and a half, Weft-South-Weit one
mile and a half, Weft one mile, when we entered a very {mall branch of
the river on the Eaft bank; at the mouth of which I was informed there
had been a carrying place, owing to the quantity of drift wood, which
then filled up the paffage, but has fince been carried away. The courfe
of this river is meandering, and tends to the North, and in about ten
miles falls into the Slave Lake, where we arrived at nine in the morn-
ing, when we found a great change in the weather, as it was become
extremely cold. ‘The lake was entirely covered with ice, and did not
© feem in any degree to have given way, but near the fhore. The gnats
and mufkitoes which were very troublefome during our paflage along
the river, did not venture to accompany us to this colder region.

The banks of the river both above and below the rapids, were on
both fides covered with the various kinds of wood common to this
country ; particularly the Weftern fide; the land being lower and confift-
_ ing of arich black foil, This artificial ground is carried down by the

ftream,

Tuefday 9,