The winter now advancing very rapidly, and the unavoidable delay at this post, obliged me to proceed on my journey on snow shoes, carrying all my goods on Indian slays, through the woods, and over {158} high mountains.
We travelled twenty-one days, on a deep snow, about one hundred leagues through the Saguenay country, which was very fatiguing, till we arrived at a place called Checootimy;[1] about half way up the river on which it stands the salt water ebbs and flows. Only a few Indians reside here, and one Indian trader, with whom I wintered, and hunted, killing a great many animals. Early in the spring I took my leave of him, and being furnished with canoes, pursued my journey to St. John's Lake; from thence to Panebacash River, to Lake Shaboomoochoine, which lies north-east of Lake Arbitibis about the distance of seven days Indian march.[2]
Near the Falls of Panebacash River I landed, and
ascended a high mountain, to survey a large cave, about
two hundred yards deep, and three yards wide at the
mouth. Here I picked up a piece of ore, about three
inches square; the exterior crust was black and very thin,
and when broke, appeared yellow. I brought it to Quebec,
but by some accident lost it, which I lamented exceedingly,
————
- ↑ Chicoutimi, at the head of navigation of Saguenay River, was early settled, a mission church being built there in 1726. It has but recently become a place of importance, being not only the chief trading station for the entire Saguenay region, where settlement has commenced to be permanent, but the seat of large salmon fisheries and of extensive wood-pulp mills; small ocean vessels are now laden with pulp at Chicoutimi docks, carrying the product to English, French, and American ports.—Ed.
- ↑ After leaving Lake St. John, Long followed its sources westward, and portaged over the Height of Land into the present Northeast Territory—a region now nearly as unknown and unexplored as it was then. Modern maps are not helpful regarding Long's route.—Ed.
