﻿128 THE WAPITI. JviA', 



originates further from tlie moutli of that great 

 river than any other affluent, it may be considered 

 as its source. It flows partly through prairie lands, 

 and its Canadian appellation of Riviere la Biclie 

 indicates that the American red-deer, or Wapiti, 

 frequents its banks. Its English name of Elk 

 River, having reference to the moose deer, is a 

 mistranslation of the Canadian one, and is also 

 inappropriate as a distinctive epithet, though the 

 moose grazes on its banks, as well as on the Mac- 

 kenzie, down to the sea. The Wapiti is not known 

 on Slave River or Lake, but further to the west it 

 ranges as far north as the east branch of the River 

 of the Mountains near the 59th parallel, where 

 Mr. Murdoch M'Pherson informs me that he has 

 partaken of its flesh. From the Saskatchewan and 

 Lesser Slave Lake the country can be traversed 

 by horsemen who are sufficiently acquainted with 

 the district to avoid the deep ravines through 

 which the streams flow. By this route a band of 

 horses were brought to Methy Portage in August, 

 1848, though they were too much exhausted by 

 their journey to be of service. In 1849 a fine 

 body of upwards of forty horses came to the 

 portage from Lesser Slave Lake, early in the season 

 and in good condition. 



July 10th. — Our voyage this morning was im- 

 peded by a strong head-wind, followed by heavy 



