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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