well relished breakfast on bread and bassfish, not ale- the company proceeded down the river, past the Muskoka bridge, and took dinner at the head of SparrowLake, chiefly upon a maskinonge caught on the way with a trolling line. In the afternoon crossed the lake which was pretty rough, to a small island of a couple of acres, in the north-west quarter, on which our tent was no sooner erected than a storm of rain began to come down. Unfortunately the drink came right through the cotton and bid fair to give everything a general soaking, until under the direction of Charley, the superabundant poles were pulled out and the frame work made to consist of nothing more cumbersome than two upright crotches and a ridge-pole. Thus simply constructed, it answered every purpose most admirably. The island gave evidence of having been frequently camped upon by fishing parties, Sparrow Lake being a popular resort for fishing."
o
"Monday, 27th - Spent a few hours fishing at the third
fall, which occurs a short distance below the lake, and ran down as far as the fourth, the most beautiful of all, and furnishing the largest fish, all
bass, of two different varieties. Leaving the majestic Severn to tumble and
sweep along its rock-bound course to the Georgian Bay, we returned half a
mile to the mouth of a creek entering it from Bear Lake, which lies about
five miles to the north. In passing up the creek, two portages were made of a
few rods each, around falls, under which our guide informed us there were
plenty of bass and sun fish, but they were passed by with indifference, after
the feast obtained from the Severn."