INTERVIEW WITH MR. CHARLES. 59 



ed ; whilst the distance between the mouths of 

 the two rivers was so trifling, that the smoke of 

 a fire made at one was distinctly visible at the 

 other. The chief had drawn a rough outline of 

 the track, some part of which I recognised as 

 being on the borders of Slave Lake ; but the 

 directions assigned to the rivers could not be 

 explained by either of the gentlemen, nor was I 

 able to bring myself to any satisfactory con- 

 clusion about them. The waters, however, were 

 described as abounding in fish, and the country 

 in animals ; and, what was not less gratifying, 

 the chief and some others were willing and 

 desirous to accompany me. 



Mr. Charles was the officer in charge of the 

 Athabasca district ; and having resided at Chip- 

 pewyan Fort, he was well qualified to judge of 

 the accuracy of an opinion expressed by Mr. A. 

 Stewart, a gentleman whom I had seen at Mon- 

 treal, that a practicable route might be found from 

 the bottom or eastern extremity of that lake. He 

 disclaimed, however, any knowledge of such a 

 route, though he thought it desirable that I 

 should ascertain the fact. He, as well as Mr. 

 M c Kenzie, at Isle a la Crosse, had provision for 

 us, if required ; and after some further arrange- 

 ments respecting boats at the north end of Por- 

 tage la Loche, and the procuring of dogs along 

 the route, in all of which he cheerfully met my 



