There was little in the forts differing from the establishments that we had before seen.  The ground on which they are erected is sandy and favourable to cultivation.  Curiosity however was satisfied by the first experiment and utility alone has been unable to extend it.  Isle a la Crosse is frequented by the Crees and the Chipewyans.  It is not the dread of the Indians but of one another that has brought the rival Companies so close together at every trading post, each party seeking to prevent the other from engaging the affections of the natives and monopolising the trade.  Whenever a settlement is made by the one the other immediately follows, without considering the eligibility of the place, for it may injure its opponent though it cannot benefit itself, and that advantage, which is the first object of all other commercial bodies, becomes but the second with the fur traders.

On the evening of the 30th we embarked and entered a wide channel to the northward of the forts and extending towards the north-west.  It gradually decreased in breadth till it became a river which is the third fork of the Missinippi and, its current being almost insensible, we entered the Clear Lake at ten A.M. on the 1st of July.  Of this lake, which is very large, no part is known except the south border, but its extent would lead us to conclude that its evaporation must be supplied by another river to the northward, especially as the small channel that communicates with Buffalo Lake is motionless.  The existence of such a river is asserted by the Indians, and a shorter passage might be found by it across the height of land to Clear Water River than the portage from the Methye Lake.

In Buffalo Lake the wind was too strong for us to proceed and we therefore encamped upon a gravel beach thrown up by the waves.  We embarked at three A.M.  July 2nd and at four P.M. entered the mouth of the Methye River.  The lake is thirty-four miles in length and fourteen in breadth.  It is probably very deep for we saw no islands on this wide expanse except at the borders.  On the south-west side were two forts belonging to the Companies and near them a solitary hill seven or eight hundred feet high.  At eight P.M. we encamped in the Methye River at the confluence of the river Pembina.  A route has been explored by it to the Red Willow River across the height of land, but the difficulties of it were so great that the ordinary route is preferred.

On the 3rd we passed through the Methye River and encamped on the borders of the Methye Lake.  The soil from Isle a la Crosse to this place is sandy with some portion of clay and the trees numerous; but the Methye River is stony and so shallow that, to lighten the canoes, we made two portages of five and two miles.  The paths were overflowed with cold spring water and barricaded by fallen trees; we should have been contented to immerse ourselves wholly had the puddle been sufficiently deep for the mosquitoes devoured every part that was exposed to them.