many little rapids.  Water low.  Have to pole and track.  See that we have our work cut out.  Doubt if we can make more than 10 miles a day up this river.  I took tracking line; George and Wallace the poles.  Sand flies awful—­nasty, vindictive, bite out chunks, and streak our hands and faces with blood.  Mosquitoes positively friendly by contrast.  Tried net.  Could not see, then tried dope—­some help.  Eating much and not rustling for fish or game.  Want to lighten outfit.

Friday, July 17th.—­Rain and clouds.  Rained hard in the night.  Awoke dreading to start out in it.  Got breakfast to let George sleep.  Water so shoal and swift that we would take part of outfit and return for the rest.  Most places had to track, I pulling on rope while Wallace and George waded, and pushed and dragged the canoe.

Saturday, July 18th.—­Bright, clear day.  Lat. 53 degrees 45 minutes 30 seconds.  Started out with full load and kept it most of the day.  Had to portage half load a few times.  Awful work all day.  Rapids continuously.  I waded with line while George and Wallace dragged and lifted.  All enjoyed the forenoon’s work, and no one depressed when P.M. weariness began.  No game.  Bear and some caribou tracks.  Have not seen a partridge or porcupine.  Seem to be few fish.  They come later and farther on.

Sunday, July 19th.—­Minimum temp. last night 38 degrees.  Fine day and warm.  Stayed in camp all day to rest.  I got up at 7 and caught about twenty trout, small.  All pretty tired and enjoyed the long sleep.  At noon George and I started up the river, following the hills.  Found small rocky stream coming in about 1 mile up.  Suppose it is the Red Wine River.  Two miles up a 2-mile stretch of good water.  Best of all the portage route leading in at the foot.  We followed this over the hill to the Red Wine River, and found old cuttings.  This pleases us a heap.  It shows that we are on the old Montagnais trail, that we will probably have their portage routes clear through, and that they probably found lakes and good water farther up, or they would never have fought this bad water.  To-morrow we will tackle the 2-mile portage with light hearts.  We are 3 miles south of where Low’s map places us.  Am beginning to suspect that the Nascaupee River, which flows through Seal Lake, also comes out of Michikamau, and that Low’s map is wrong.  Bully stunt if it works out that way.  Saw lots of caribou and fresh bear tracks.  Trout went fine for supper.  Flies very bad.  Our wrists burn all the time.

Monday, July 20th.—­Minimum temp. last night 37 degrees.  Bright day.  Flies awful.  I got breakfast while George cut portage through swamp, and then we groaned all day—­through the swamp 1 1/2 miles—­across two streams, up steep hill, then along old trail to foot of smooth water above these rapids.  Covered route mainly three times.  All very tired.  George worked like a hero.