310 SEPARATION FROM MR. MLEOD 



c 



with the sledges and half the cargo to the ice on 

 the lake ; and I availed myself of this last occa- 

 sion to repeat the substance of our former 

 conversations respecting the duties that would 

 be required of him during my absence ; the 

 most important of which were, his going to 

 Fort Resolution for the stores, to be sent 

 there by the Company, and the building of a 

 house for a permanent fishing station at some 

 place to be selected by himself. I also deli- 

 vered into his hands an official letter, requiring 

 him to be again on the banks of the Thlew-ee- 

 choh, by the middle of September, so as to be in 

 readiness to afford any assistance to my party 

 that unforeseen misfortunes might render neces- 

 sary. Finally, I returned him sincere thanks 

 for the zealous attention with which he had ful- 

 filled my wishes, as well as for his general kind- 

 ness to every individual of the expedition. By 

 this time the boat had returned, and with a 

 hearty farewell, I embarked for the ice. 



The boat was soon put on the runners, and, 

 together with the baggage, conveyed to the 

 other side of the lake ; when, the water being 

 open, she was again launched, to avoid acci- 

 dents only half the cargo being placed in her. 

 The river, flowing from the lake, cuts through a 

 chain of craggy rocks and mountains, thickly 

 strewed with boulders and debris, but with 



