but they remembered the expedition of Sir Alexander Mackenzie
towards the sea.
This is a picturesque lake, about ten miles long, and six broad,
and receives its name from a species of fish caught in it, but not
much esteemed; the residents never eat any part but the liver
except through necessity; the dogs dislike even that. The tittameg
and trout are also Caught' in the fall of the year. The position of
the houses by our observations is latitude 56° 24' 20 1ST., longitude
109° 23' 06" W., variation 22° 50' 28" E.
On the 13th we renewed our journey and parted from Mr. Clark,
to whom we were much obliged for his hospitality, and kindness.
We soon reached the Methye Portage, and had a very pleasant ride
across it in our carioles. The track was good and led through groups
of pines, so happily placed that it would not have required a
great stretch of imagination to fancy ourselves in a well-arranged
park. We had now to cross a small lake, and then gradually
ascended hills beyond it, until we arrived at the summit of a lofty
chain of mountains commanding the most picturesque and romantic
prospect we had yet seen in this country. Two ranges of high hills
run parallel to each other for several miles, until the faint blue haze
hides their particular characters, when they slightly change their
course, and are lost to the view. The space between them is occupied
by nearly a level plain, through whieh a river pursues a
meandering course, and receives supplies from the creeks and rills
issuing from the mountains on each side. The prospect was delightful
even amid the snow, and though marked with all the
cheerless characters of winter; how much more charming must it be
when the trees are in leaf, and the ground is arrayed in summer
verdure ! - Some faint idea of the difference was conveyed to my mind
by witnessing the effect of the departing rays of a brilliant sun. The
distant prospect, however, is surpassed in grandeur by the wild
scenery which appeared immediately below our feet. There the eye
penetrates into vast ravines two or three hundred feet in depth, that
are elothed with trees, and he on either side of the narrow pathway
descending to the river over eight successive ridges of hills. At one
spot, termed the Cockscomb, the traveller stands insulated as it
were on a small slip, where a false step might precipitate him into
the glen. From this place Mr. Back took an interesting and accurate
sketch, to allow time for which, we encamped early,, having
come twenty-one miles.
The Methye Portage is about twelve miles in extent, and over
this space the canoes and all their cargoes are carried, both in going
to and from the Athabasca department. It is part of the range of
mountains which separates the waters flowing south from those
flowing north. According to Sir Alexander Mackenzie, “ this range
of hills continues in a S.W. direction until its local height is lost
between the Saskatchawan and Elk Rivers, close on the banks of
the former, in latitude 53° 36' N., longitude 113° 45' W., when it
appears to take its course due north.” Observations, taken in the
spring by Mr. Hood, place the northside of the portage in latitude
56° 41' 40" N., longitude 109° 5:2' 15" W., variation 25?jg2' 30" E.,
dip 85“ T 27".
At daylight on the 14th we began to descend the range of hills
leading towards the river, and no small care was required to prevent
the sledges from being broken in going down these almost
perpendicular heights, or being precipitated into the glens on each
side. As a precautionary measure the dogs were taken off, and
the sledges guided by the men, notwithstanding which they descended
with amazing rapidity, and the men were thrown into the
most ridiculous attitudes in endeavouring to stop them. When we
had arrived at the bottom I could not but feel astonished at the laborious
task which the voyagers have twice in the year to encounter at
this place, in conveying their stores backwards and forwards. We
went across the Clear Water River, which runs at the bases of these
S 2