In the evening the atmosphere became clear and at five P.M. we reached the rapid by which Point Lake communicates with Red-Rock Lake.  This rapid is only one hundred yards wide and we were much disappointed at finding the Copper-Mine River such an inconsiderable stream.  The canoes descended the rapid but the cargoes were carried across the peninsula and placed again on the sledges as the next lake was still frozen.  We passed an extensive arm branching to the eastward, and encamped just below it on the western bank among spruce pines, having walked six miles of direct distance.  The rolled stones on the beach are principally red clay slate, hence its Indian appellation which we have retained.

We continued our journey at the usual hour next morning.  At noon the variation was observed to be 47 degrees East.  Our attention was afterwards directed to some pine branches scattered on the ice which proved to be marks placed by our hunters to guide us to the spot where they had deposited the carcasses of two small deer.  This supply was very seasonable and the men cheerfully dragged the additional weight.  Akaitcho, judging from the appearance of the meat, thought it had been placed here three days ago and that the hunters were considerably in advance.  We put up at six P.M. near the end of the lake, having come twelve miles and three-quarters, and found the channel open by which it is connected with the Rock-nest Lake.  A river was pointed out bearing south from our encampment, which is said to rise near Great Marten Lake.  Red-Rock Lake is in general narrow, its shelving banks are well clothed with wood and even the hills, which attain an elevation of four hundred or five hundred feet, are ornamented halfway up with stunted pines.

On June 30 the men, having gummed the canoes, embarked with their burdens to descend the river; but we accompanied the Indians about five miles across a neck of land, when we also embarked.  The river was about two hundred yards wide and, its course being uninterrupted, we cherished a sanguine hope of now getting on more speedily, until we perceived that the waters of Rock-nest Lake were still bound by ice and that recourse must again be had to the sledges.  The ice was much decayed and the party were exposed to great risk of breaking through in making the traverse.  In one part we had to cross an open channel in the canoes, and in another were compelled to quit the Lake and make a portage along the land.  When the party had got upon the ice again our guide evinced much uncertainty as to the route.  He first directed us towards the west end of the lake but, when we had nearly gained that point, he discovered a remarkable rock to the north-east, named by the Indians the Rock-nest, and then recollected that the river ran at its base.  Our course was immediately changed to that direction, but the traverse we had then to make was more dangerous than the former one.  The ice cracked under us at every step and the party were obliged to separate