CANADIAN EXPLORATION.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1184, 30 September 1885, Page 4

CANADIAN EXPLORATION.

Mr Bignell, the late head of the Quebec Government exploring party sent oub last year to obtaiu some accurate information respecting what has been called Canada's "great unknown inland sea" has (writes our correspondent) furnished some very interesting and valuable details of his work. The object of exploration was Lake Mastassini, a large body of water kuown to exist near the confines of Quebec province, bordering on the Labrador peninsula, and lying northeast of Lake St. John. The lake was reached by the expedition along Rupert River, or the "River of the Devil," as the Indians style it, of which Lake Mastassini is only an expansion. Considerable assistance was obtained by means of an old map drawn by the Jesuit fathers 200 years ago which belongs to the Crown Lands Department, and which was a record of the existence of the cave of the Great Spirit, the location of which was so accurately described that the party experienced no difficulty in finding it, and which was subsequently made use of as a storehouse for their supplies. Running parallel with the large lake is a smaller body of water known as little Lake Mastassini, and which was estimated by actual exploration to extend 100 or 220 miles in length, with a width in some parts of about 8 miles. Hitherto it has figured on maps as an arm of the greater lake, but it is now proved to be in reality some miles distant, and only connected with it by a narrow stream. The name Maatassini means in the Indian tongue "Big Rock," and is' applied to this body of water from

the circumstance of a very large and striking rock overlooking the lake at its southern extremity. The survey made shows the present map location to be erroneous by about half a degree of latitude. The formation of the country around the lake is principally limestone, and it is believed the soil will be found well adapted for the growth of hardy cereals. The length of the lake is not yet ascertained. In 1871 its southern coast was traced for about 70 milea, and Mr Bignell's son followed it 120 miles, at which point the Indians told him that he had not yet reached the main body of the lake. Lack of provisions forbade further progress, but an expedition now continuing the survey so far made is expected to be able to set at rest much that is in doubt respecting this mythical lake, described by the Jesuits two centuries ago, and about which nothing definite has since been learned. In the lake, so far as explored, there are

numerous islands, some o£ them over 10 miles in length, and containing small lakes in their interior. During the winter the expedition found the cold very intense, the thermometer in December reaching 56° below zero, and on the 17th of March

touching 52deg. below. Good pine titrber exists along its shores, and a heavy growth of spruce, hemlock, and fir abounds, all of which may prove of value, if navigation to Hudson's Bay is opened eventually. The rivers emptying into the latter will be the means of floating down large quantities of logs and timber hitherto untouched by the axe, owing to the want of an established outlet for it from its habitat.