326 VISIT FROM DR. JOHN RAE, 



boat into the court-yard to the doors of the dwelHiigs ; 

 all the fences and much fuel were carried off, and large 

 masses of ice floated around, some of which remained 

 when the obstruction of the channel was removed and 

 the river had free passage again ; had the water con- 

 tinued to rise much longer the fort would probably 

 have been carried off.* On the 22nd, Doctor 

 John Rae, the well-known Arctic voyager, at that 

 time in charge of the Mackenzie River District, 

 came down from Fort Simpson on his way to Port 

 Good Hope, which is visited every year, on the 

 breaking up of the ice, by the Head of the District. 

 I cannot forbear to offer a tribute to his courteous 

 and delicate attention ; further acquaintance engend- 

 ered sentiments of great esteem for his many excellent 

 qualities. On the 24th, my party started for Fort 

 Simpson, and we rejoined Mr. Pullen at that place 

 on the 1st of June. 



We noted on the journey the enormous force 

 exerted by the river when obstructed in its passage 

 on the disruption of the ice : it had in many places 

 risen to a great height, and here enormous masses and 

 great quantities of ice had been deposited along the 

 banks. Where abrupt points occurred it was piled to 



* This actually happened next year, 1851, nearly everything being swept 

 away, and the station is uom' removed to the bank of Bear lliver. 



