* 204 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 
clothed with trees, and lie on either side of the 
narrow pathway descending to the river over 
eight successive ridges of hills. At one spot 
termed the Cockscomb, the passenger stands in- 
sulated as it were on a small slip, where a false 
step might precipitate him into the glen. From 
this place Mr. Back took an interesting and ac- 
curate sketch of the view, to enable him to do 
which, we encamped early having come twenty- 
The Methye Portage is about twelve miles in 
extent, and over this space the canoes and all their 
cargoes are carried, both in going to and from the 
Athabasca department. It is part of the range of 
mountains which separates the waters flowing 
south from those flowing north. According to Sir 
Alexander Mac Kenzie, “ this range of hills con- 
tinues in a 8. W. direction until its local height is 
lost between the Saskatchawan and Elk Rivers, 
close on the banks of the former, in latitude 53° 
36'N., longitude 113°45' W., when it appears to 
take its course due north.” Observations, taken in 
the spring by Mr. Hood, place the northside of the 
portage in latitude 56° 41’ 40” N., longitude 109° 
52 15” W., variation 25° 2 30" E., dip 85° 7' 27’. 
_ At daylight on the 14th we began to descend 
the range of hills leading towards the river, and 
no small care was required to prevent the sledge* 
