seen. So somebody has paradoxically defined it "a little big lake."

Barring a single expansion of somewhat more than a mile in length the
Michakamats River, which runs through a flat, marshy and uninteresting
country, was too shallow to float our canoes, and we were compelled to
portage almost its entire length.

In the wide marshes between these two lakes we met the first evidences
of the great caribou migration. The ground was tramped like a
barnyard, in wide roads, by vast herds of deer, all going to the
eastward. There must have been thousands of them in the bands. Most
of the hoof marks were not above a day or two old and had all been
made since the last rain had fallen, as was evidenced by freshly
turned earth and newly tramped vegetation. We saw none of the
animals, however, and there were no hills near from which we might
hope to sight the herds.

Evidences of life were increasing and game was becoming abundant as we
approached the height of land. Some geese and ptarmigans were killed
and a good many of both kinds of birds were seen, as well as some
ducks. We began to live in plenty now and the twittering owls were
permitted to go unmolested.

Lake Michikamats is irregular in shape, about twenty miles long, and,
exclusive of its arms, from two to six miles wide. The surrounding
country is flat and marshy, with some low, barren hills on the
westward side of the lake. The timber growth in the vicinity is
sparse and scrubby, consisting of spruce and tamarack. The latter had
now taken on its autumnal dress of yellow, and, interspersing the dark
green of the spruce, gave an exceedingly beautiful effect to the