^4 EXPLORATIONS IN THE FAR NORTH 



The "Wrigley" started up the river that afternoon on her first 

 trip of the season to Fort Smith. The furs at all the posts above 

 Good Hope, except Rae, are collected on this trip. On her 

 return the steamer goes directly down to the only post north 

 of Good Hope, — McPherson. 1 On her third northward trip the 

 "Wrigley" goes only to Simpson, and then returns to Willow 

 River to be hauled out for the winter. There is but one post in 

 the Mackenzie District — Fort Liard — which the steamer does 

 not reach. 



It was two hundred and seventy-five miles to McPherson, to 

 which I had now to make my way as quickly as possible. I had 

 no definite information concerning the date at which the whale- 

 boat from Herschel Island might be expected at McPherson, 

 and feared that if I arrived too late to accompany it that I 

 would be unable to reach the island alone. I therefore spent 

 no time in zoological explorations in that very interesting 

 region, but set off again, the next morning, alone, in a small 

 birch canoe. There were a few pieces to be sent down to Mc- 

 Pherson, but the skiff which carried them was too heavily loaded 

 to admit a passenger. The skiff would drift at night while I, 

 not being able to sleep in the canoe, would have to camp on 

 shore; this would prevent me from traveling in company with 

 it, and constant association with the Indians for the past two 

 months had not developed such a fondness for their society that 

 I desired to have Indian guides if I could possibly travel alone. 



I filled every inch of space in the canoe with a hundred and 

 eighty pounds of baggage and left the remainder to be brought 

 in the skiff, which I was assured would soon pass me. I started 

 late on the morning of the 14th of June, a memorable date, as 

 I crossed the arctic circle that afternoon and felt that I was 

 really in the North. 



The strong current of the majestic river aided me very much, 

 even down the Grand View, which I passed the next morning, 

 where the banks are from two to three miles apart and the river 

 without a bend for miles, the current was still strong. I crossed 

 to the left bank that afternoon to avoid a group of Indian 

 cabins called "Chicago" by the officers of the "Wrigley." 



1 Called Peel River by the Company; the original name of McPherson is 

 preferable, as it is not then confused with the Peel River on whose banks 

 the station is situated. 



