Knee Lake towards its upper end becomes narrower and its rocky shores are broken into conical and rounded eminences, destitute of soil, and of course devoid of trees.  We slept at the western extremity of the lake, having come during the day nineteen miles and a half on a South-West course.

Trout river.

We began the ascent of Trout River early in the morning of the 27th and in the course of the day passed three portages and several rapids.  At the first of these portages the river falls between two rocks about sixteen feet and it is necessary to launch the boat over a precipitous rocky bank.  This cascade is named the Trout Fall, and the beauty of the scenery afforded a subject for Mr. Hood’s pencil.  The rocks which form the bed of this river are slaty and present sharp fragments by which the feet of the boatmen are much lacerated.  The Second Portage in particular obtains the expressive name of Knife Portage.  The length of our voyage today was three miles.

Holy lake.

On the 28th we passed through the remainder of Trout River; and at noon arrived at Oxford House on Holy Lake.  This was formerly a post of some consequence to the Hudson’s Bay Company but at present it exhibits unequivocal signs of decay.  The Indians have of late years been gradually deserting the low or swampy country and ascending the Saskatchewan where animals are more abundant.  A few Crees were at this time encamped in front of the fort.  They were suffering under whooping-cough and measles and looked miserably dejected.  We endeavoured in vain to prevail on one of them to accompany us for the purpose of killing ducks which were numerous but too shy for our sportsmen.  We had the satisfaction however of exchanging the mouldy pemmican obtained at Swampy Lake for a better kind, and received moreover a small but very acceptable supply of fish.  Holy Lake, viewed from an eminence behind Oxford House, exhibits a pleasing prospect; and its numerous islands, varying much in shape and elevation, contribute to break that uniformity of scenery which proves so palling to a traveller in this country.  Trout of a great size, frequently exceeding forty pounds’ weight, abound in this lake.  We left Oxford House in the afternoon and encamped on an island about eight miles distant, having come during the day nine miles and a quarter.

Weepinapannis river.

At noon on the 29th, after passing through the remainder of Holy Lake, we entered the Weepinapannis, a narrow grassy river which runs parallel to the lake for a considerable distance and forms its south bank into a narrow peninsula.  In the morning we arrived at the Swampy Portage where two of the boats were broken against the rocks.  The length of the day’s voyage was nineteen miles and a half.