Got all
and threw fits of joy. Need 'em just now badly for grub. Through
little lake beginning at head of water, quarter of a mile above,
into meadow, fresh beaver house. At foot of rapid water, below
junction of two streams, ate lunch. Trout half to three-quarter
pounds making water boil. Caught several. From this point to
where river branches to two creeks, we scouted. Think found old
Montagnais portage. To-night heap big feed. George built fire as
for bread-baking.
Tuesday, August 4th. - Temp. 6 A.M. 56 degrees. Portaged 1 mile to
Montagnais Lake. Portage ran through bogs and over low ridges. I
sat on edge of lake looking at rod, when a caribou waded into lake,
not 100 feet away. Rifle at other end of portage. Hoped to find
inlet to lake, but only one ends in bog. Lots of old cuttings at
northwest corner of lake; two old wigwams. Troubled to know where
to go from here. All scouted whole afternoon. Lake 1 mile west.
Old trail runs towards it. George thinks caribou trail, no
cuttings found on it yet. I think portage. Looks like portage we
have followed and runs in right direction.
Wedncsday, August 5th. - Portaged from camp on Montagnais Lake, 1
mile west to another lake. No signs of Indians here. Camped at
west end of this. Saw two caribou. Dropped pack and grabbed
rifle; was waiting for them 250 yards away when a cussed little
long-legged bird scared them. At point near camp where lakes meet,
I cast a fly, and half pound and pound fontanalis, as fast as I
could pull them out. What a feed at 2 P.M. lunch. Climbing ridge,
saw that lake empties by little strait into another small lake just
alongside, at south. Stream flows from that south. Therefore we
are on Hamilton River waters. George and I went scouting to bluffs
we saw from trees on ridge. Both lost. George got back before
dark. I spent night on hill, 2 miles southwest. No matches or
grub. Scared a little. Heard big river, found it flows southeast.
Must go into Hamilton, but it is a big one, several times as big as
the Northwest at its biggest. Where does it come from? Can it be
Michikamau?
Thursday, August 6th. - Slept some last night, lying on two dead
spruce tops, too wet and cold to sleep very well. Mosquitoes
awful. George went to my river. Wallace and I took canoe and went
into lake north of here. Cuttings, winter. George found river to
be big and deep. Straight, as though from Michikamau. Don't
believe this little creek of a Northwest comes from there. Will
portage to this river and try it.
Friday, August 7th. - Portaged 2 miles to river on our south; good
paddling save for a rapid now and then.
