At seven in the morning of the 24th, we crossed the Long Portage, where the woods, having caught fire in the summer, were still smoking.

This is a common accident, owing to the neglect of the Indians and voyagers in not putting out their fires, and in a dry season the woods may be seen blazing to the extent of many miles.

We afterwards crossed the Second, or Swampy Portage, and in the evening encamped on the Upper Portage, where we were overtaken by an Indian bringing an answer from Governor Williams to a letter I had written to him on the 15th, in which he renewed his injunctions to the gentlemen of the boats accompanying us, to afford us every assistance in their power.

The Aurora Borealis appeared this evening in form of a bright arch, extending across the zenith in a N.W.and S.E.

direction.
The extent of our voyage to-day was two miles.
About noon, on the 25th, we entered Knee Lake, which has a very irregular form, and near its middle takes a sudden turn, from whence it derives its name.