48 THE NORTH-WEST PASSAGE BY LAND. 



eventually carried packs over the mountains into 

 British Columbia. 



Our supplies consisted of pemmican, dried meat, 

 flour, tea, salt, tobacco, rum, a large quantity of am- 

 munition, blankets, and buffalo robes, and knives and 

 trinkets for presents or barter. These and a canvass 

 tent were carried in six of the small rough carts of 

 the country, which are made entirely of wood; and 

 although they break more readily than if iron wxre 

 used, yet they are easily repaired when travelling 

 where iron and blacksmiths are not found. 



We discarded boots and coats, adopting the cos- 

 tume of the country, viz., moccasins, and hunting- 

 shirts of the skin of the Cariboo deer. Our weapons 

 ■were a double-barrelled gun, hunting-knife, and a 

 revolver a-piece, which last we only carried when in 

 dangerous localities. 



And here we would offer a w^ord of advice to 

 any future traveller in the Hudson's Bay territories. 

 If he intends merely to hunt buffalo on the plains 

 in the summer, when he can take carts along with 

 him, and ample supplies, let him take a rifle if he 

 wdll ; but if he wishes to see wild life in every phase, 

 and rousrh it throug-h the winter, as we did, let him be 

 content with a double-barrelled smooth-bore, which 

 will carry ball well. Carts cannot travel in the deep 

 snow, and everything has to be carried on dog-sleighs. 

 Every pound of weight is a consideration, and a gun 

 packed on a sleigh is almost certain to be bent or 

 broken. In the woods the hunter must carry all his 

 baggage and provisions on his back. 



