Volume 1

DOWN THE WINNIPEG TO THE PINAWA. 31
was anxious to get ahead and show his activity, as is generally
the case in the N. W. This produced a scene of
bustle and confusion, which cannot be conceived by one
who has not been an eye-witness of the great exertion of
which the Northmen are capable. We proceeded to Petit
Rocher Brule, a portage of about 150 paces. My canoe
was the first in the water here. We passed on to Chute a
I'Esclave, where we made a portage of about 2,000 paces.
We came down to the Barrier, a portage of about 100
paces, on the island ; and thence to the Grand Rapid,
where, the water being apropos, we saulted, though there is
commonly made here a portage of about 15 paces. A little
below this rapid we camped at the entrance of Pennawa
river.""
Aug. I2th. Loaded early and embarked. Came to- the
Petites Dalles ; unloaded half, and carried about 50 paces.
We then proceeded to the first or Petit Portage de la
2* We may conveniently note the above-mentioned places in the order in which
they occur, finishing with the Pinawa : i. Chute a Jacques, otherwise known
as Jacob's falls, Jack's falls, and James' portage, is supposed to be 26 m. below
Portage de I'lsle ; the descent of water is about 11 ft., and the carriage is
on the left, over bare rocks, for some 80 yards. 2. Hence it is 5 or 6 m.
to Grande Pointe des Bois, or Big Woody Point portage, where there is a
sloping descent of water of about 6 ft.; carriage 190 yards, in a bay. 3.
Little Woody Point portage almost immediately succeeds ; here the descent is
about 14 ft., the carriage 100 yards. 4. What Henry calls Petit Rocher Brule,
Little Burnt Rock, is
one of the several galets which occur on the route, sometimes
rendered simply Rocky portage ; it is only a mile or so below the
last; descent 7 ft.; carry 80 yards over rocks on the right. 5. Chute a I'Esclave,
Slave falls, 2 m. below the last galet, occasions a portage of 500 yards on
the right ; the fall is about 150 yards wide, with a sloping descent of 15 ft.
The aboriginal name is rendered Awakane Pawetik by Keating, II. p. 98, and
said to have arisen in a local tradition. Keating figures Slave falls, pi. 9, and
also Petite Pointe des Bois falls, pi. 10 ; the latter is called " Upper Falls of
the Winnepeck," p. 100. 6. The Barrier next obstructs navigation, 5 or 6 m.
below Slave falls ;
regarding the length of carriage here, we have widely discrepant
statements, and I infer that the requisite portage may vary with the
state of the water or other conditions. 7. The Grand Rapid, about 10 m.
further, is a place which may be shot or must be in part portaged, according
to circumstances ;
on
of the Pinawa.
finishing which, the distance is about a mile to the head