EXPEDITIONS TO PACIFIC. . 105 



undertook a jouruey to Euglaud, in order to educate himself in these sciences and procure 

 books and iuislrunieuts for his future use It was in this way that he prepared himself 

 for the expedition to the Pacific. 



Once more Mackenzie found his way to Fort Chipewyan, and, on October 1 0th, 1792, 

 having made every necessary preparation, he left on a journey of further discovery. 

 Ascending Peace River until his ju-ogress was impeded by ice, the party remained for the 

 winter at the place where the delay was experienced. 



On May 9th, 1*793, when the river opened, the voyage was resumed. He ascended 

 Peace River to the Forks ; one branch of which has been named the Finlaj^ the other the 

 Parsnip. Mackenzie's parly followed the latter to near its source, when he crossed to 

 the great river called Tacoutehe by the Indians, cutting a passage tlirough the woods 

 so that he could carry his cauoe with him. Mackenzie formed the opinion that the river 

 on which he then embarked was the Columbia : a belief generally entertained until 1808, 

 when Simon Fraser followed its waters to the Strait of Greorgia. The travellers floated 

 down the Tacoutche five days, meeting Indians with whom some dithculty was experi- 

 enced. They learned from the Indians that the river they were following was of great 

 length and full of perils. Jiis men becoming mutinous, he decided to abandon the 

 attempt to descend to the mouth of the Columbia, and determined to reaeh the sea by 

 another route. In order to gain the path to the west used by the Indians, the explorer 

 had to turn back. Fort Alexandria was established twenty-eight years afterwards, at the 

 piecise spot where he reversed his course, and was so named in honor of the first 

 explorer. 



It proved fortunate that he so determined ; the route described by the Indians led to 

 the sea in sixteen days after leaving the main river. His party had adventures with 

 dillerent Indian tribes ; they were placed on short allowance, and underwent hardships, 

 but Mackenzie at last attained his long cherished object. On July 22nd, 1793, he reached 

 the sea overland from Canada, and floated on the tide-water of the Pacific. The point 

 reached is near the Indian village of Bella Coola, on the North Beutick Arm, about 

 latitude 52-^ 30'. The explorer returned approximately by the same route, reaching on 

 August 24th, the point on Peace River where the party had passed the winter, and from 

 which they had started west on May 9th. They arrived at Fort Chipewyan after an 

 absence of eleven months, during which period they had encountered many dangers and 

 undergone privation. Mackenzie had the uncjualified satisfaction of feeling that the 

 work of exploration and discovery he had undertaken, with all its toils and solicitudes, 

 had been crowned with complete success. 



Sir Alexander Mackenzie's portrait is given in the edition of his works of 1801, after 

 the picture by Lawrence. There is almost a feminine delicacy in the features, but 

 accompanied by a dauntlessness of expression, with a mouth round the lines of which can 

 be read firmness and determination. He describes himself as of an inquisitive mind 

 and enterprising spirit, and as possessing a constitution and frame of body eciual to the 

 most arduous undertakings. It was his pride to think that he had added new regions to 

 the realm of British commerce. Mackenzie died in 1820. 



Sec. II, 1889. 14- 



