We had scarcely ascended the hill on the following morning when a large herd of red-deer was perceived grazing at a little distance; and though we were amply supplied with provision our Canadian companions could not resist the temptation of endeavouring to add to our stock.  A half-breed hunter was therefore sent after them.  He succeeded in wounding one but not so as to prevent its running off with the herd in a direction wide of our course.  A couple of rabbits and a brace of wood partridges were shot in the afternoon.  There was an agreeable variety of hill and dale in the scenery we passed through today, and sufficient wood for ornament but not enough to crowd the picture.  The valleys were intersected by several small lakes and pools whose snowy covering was happily contrasted with the dark green of the pine-trees which surrounded them.  After ascending a moderately high hill by a winding path through a close wood we opened suddenly upon Lake Iroquois and had a full view of its picturesque shores.  We crossed it and encamped.

Though the sky was cloudless yet the weather was warm.  We had the gratification of finding a beaten track soon after we started on the morning of the 12th and were thus enabled to walk briskly.  We crossed at least twenty hills and found a small lake or pool at the foot of each.  The destructive ravages of fire were visible during the greater part of the day.  The only wood we saw for miles together consisted of pine-trees stripped of their branches and bark by this element:  in other parts poplars alone were growing which we have remarked invariably to succeed the pine after a conflagration.  We walked twenty miles today but the direct distance was only sixteen.

The remains of an Indian hut were found in a deep glen and close to it was placed a pile of wood which our companions supposed to cover a deposit of provision.  Our Canadian voyagers, induced by their insatiable desire of procuring food, proceeded to remove the upper pieces and examine its contents when, to their surprise, they found the body of a female, clothed in leather, which appeared to have been recently placed there.  Her former garments, the materials for making a fire, a fishing-line, a hatchet, and a bark dish were laid beside the corpse.  The wood was carefully replaced.  A small owl, perched on a tree near to the spot, called forth many singular remarks from our companions as to its being a good or bad omen.

We walked the whole of the 13th over flat meadow-land which is much resorted to by the buffalo at all seasons.  Some herds of them were seen which our hunters were too unskilful to approach.  In the afternoon we reached the Stinking Lake which is nearly of an oval form.  Its shores are very low and swampy to which circumstances and not to the bad quality of the waters it owes its Indian name.  Our observations place its western part in latitude 53 degrees 25 minutes 24 seconds North, longitude 107 degrees 18 minutes 58 seconds West, variation 20 degrees 32 minutes 10 seconds East.