OF THE FUR TRADE, &c. Ixxvil

the beaver, as well as in preparing, ftretching, and drying the fkins of
thofe animals. And as a fign of their derifion, they ftretched the fkin of a
frog, and hung it up at the Portage. This was, at that time, the utmoft
extent of their conqueft or warfaring-progrefs Welt, and is in latitude
55: 25. North, and longitude 103+. Welt. The river here, which bears
the appearance of a Jake, takes its name from the Portage, and is full of
iflands. It runs from Eaft to Weft about fixteen miles, and is from
four to five miles broad. Then fucceed falls and cafcades which form
what is called the grand rapid. From thence there is a fucceffion of
fmall lakes and rivers, interrupted by rapids and falls, viz. the Portage
de Bareel, the Portage de L’Ile, and that of the Rapid River. The
courfe is twenty miles from Eaft-South-Eaft to North-North- Weft.
The Rapid-River Lake then runs Welt five miles, and is of an oval
form. The rapid river is the difcharge of Lake la Ronge, where
there has been an eftablifhment for trade from the year 1782. Since
the fmall pox ravaged thefe parts, there have been but few inhabi-
tants; thefe are of the Knifteneaux tribe, and do not exceed thirty
men. The direét navigation continues to be through rivers and canals,
interrupted by rapids; and the diftance to the firft Decharge is four
miles, in a Wefterly direétion. Then follows Lake de la Montagne,
which runs South-South-Weift three miles and an half, then North fix
miles, through narrow channels, formed by iflands, and continues
North-North-Weft five miles, to the portage of the fame name, which
is no fooner croffed, than another appears in fight, leading to the Otter

Lake, from whence it is nine miles Weflerly to the Otter Portage, ©

in latitude 55. 39. Between this and the Portage du Diable, are
feveral rapids, and the diftance three miles and an half. Then fuc-

ceeds the lake of the fame name, running from South-Eaft to North-
Weft,

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