256 THE NORTH-WEST PASSAGE BY LAND. 



of cmmbling slate. The path was only a few inches 

 in width, barely affording footing for the horses, and 

 midway a great rock had slipped down from above, 

 resting on the narrow ledge by which we had to pass. 

 This completely barred the way, and the perpendicular 

 cliffs rendered it impossible for ns to evade it by 

 taking any other route. We therefore cut down ,a 

 niimber of young pine trees, and using them as levers, 

 set to work to dislodge the obstacle. After an hour's 

 toil, we succeeded in loosening it from its position, 

 and with a single bound it rolled down with sullen 

 plunge into the deep river, far below. We then led 

 the horses past, one by one, with the greatest caution. 

 The path was so narrow and dangerous, that we gave 

 it the name of Mahomet's Bridge. 



The scenery at this point was very fine ; the moun- 

 tains shutting in the valley very closely on either 

 side, and the river below tearing and roaring along 

 over its rocky bed with great velocity. The cliff just 

 mentioned was the first slate-rock we met with, 

 joined with the carboniferous limestone, which indi- 

 cated the approach to the auriferous region. Slate is 

 the " bed-rock " with which gold is invariably found 

 associated in the Cariboo mines, and therefore this 

 first appearance of it, in passing from east to west, 

 is of considerable interest. Bearing upon this is the 

 curious fact, that east of the Eocky Mountains gold in 

 any quantity has only been found, we believe, in those 

 streams which rise on the loestern side of the main 

 ridp-e, as in the Peace Eiver, which rises far to the 

 west, or those which come from the very heart of the 

 range, as the North Saskatchewan. 



