sometimes swift and narrow and the course winds for we have gone sometimes North and at others times due South. It would be difficult to find the rout at all without an experienced guide fo[r] setting aside the intricacy of these turns and windings the guide must have a competant judgement to choose the proper channel for the State of the water is such in the Ottawa and it is known to rise and fall to great extreames in the Ottawa[.] Lost the half of this day by rain which must be wanted in the inhabited parts of the province though a perfect nuiseance to us voyageurs. Next morning we steared a N.E. Course to the portage called la Montagne where we carried Goods & Canoe up a Steep hill, after embarking proceeded E. & North made D'Argy and reached the Grand Callumet this portage, the longest in the Ottawa is ½ a League across, upwards of three hundred yards from where we unloaded is a pretty steep ascent[.] This Portage took more than twenty four hours of our time, before we cleared it, what with Gumming and mending our canoes[.] This is the first place I saw Fred Signorat who was since so esteemed a servant of the North West Company[.] He invited my fellow travellars and self to a supper of the best in his possession. The voyageurs called the Grand

Calumet

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