SUl 



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DOWN THE ATHABASCA. 21 



look for a camping place. The banks of the river, 

 formed of boulder clay, were very high, and good land- 

 ings were scarce. In places the mud on the shore was 

 soft and deep, but about seven o'clock a landing was 



-L ' O 



beted and camp pitched for the night. At this time 

 only two small tents were used, an "A" tent for the 

 canoemen and a wall tent, affording a little more head 

 room, for ourselves. The banks being well wooded with 

 white and black poplar, spruce and birch, plenty of fuel 

 was available. A fire was soon kindled and our even- 

 ing meal prepared, in the cooking of which John was 

 given the first opportunity of distinguishing himself. 

 He was assisted by little Michel, who proved to be a 

 very good hand. Having some bread and biscuits in 

 stock, baking was not yet a necessity. 



The weather now being fair and cool, and the great 

 pest of camp life, the mosquito, not having yet arrived, 

 our experience at this time was most enjoyable. It was 

 the season of spring, and the sweet perfume of the Balm 

 of Gilead, so abundant in the valley of the Athabasca, 

 permeated the air. The leaves on many of the trees 

 were just opening, so that everywhere the woods pre- 

 sented a remarkable freshness and brilliancy of foliage. 

 These were our environments at the commencement of 

 the canoe voyage, and at our first camp on the banks of 

 the Athabasca. How different were they to be at the 

 other end of the journey ! 



On the morning of the 1st of June camp was called 

 early, and we continued on our way. As we glided down 

 stream a succession of grand views passed, panorama- 

 like, before us. The banks were high, towering in some 

 places three, four or five hundred feet above the river ; 



