After supper we were entertained till midnight with paddling songs by our Canadians who required very little stimulus beyond their natural vivacity to afford us this diversion.

The next morning we arrived at the establishments which are situated on the western side of the lake near a small stream called the Beaver River.

They were small log buildings hastily erected last October for the convenience of the Indians who hunt in the vicinity.
Mr.MacMurray, a partner in the North-West Company, having sent to Isle a la Crosse an invitation to Mr.Back and I, our carioles were driven to his post and we experienced the kindest reception.

These posts are frequented by only a few Indians, Crees, and Chipewyans.

The country round is not sufficiently stocked with animals to afford support to many families and the traders subsist almost entirely on fish caught in the autumn prior to the lake being frozen but, the water being shallow, they remove to a deeper part as soon as the lake is covered with ice.