98 Thirty Tears 



next portage, of two hundred and seventy-three paces ; 

 and shortly afterwards to the Mountain Portage, of one 

 hundred and twenty : which is appropriately named, 

 as the path l^ads over the summit of a high hill. 

 This elevated situation commands a very grand and 

 picturesque view, for some miles along the river, which 

 at this part is about a mile wide. 



We next crossed a portage of one hundred and 

 twenty yards ; and then the Pelican portage of eight 

 hundred paces. Mr. Back took an accurate sketch of 

 the interesting scenery which the river presents at this 

 place. After descending six miles further we came to 

 the last portage on the route to Slave Lake, which we 

 crossed, and encamped at its lower end. It is called 

 " The Portage of the Drowned," and it received that 

 name from a melancholy accident which took place 

 many years ago. Two canoes arrived at the upper 

 end of the portage, in one of which there was an ex- 

 perienced guide. This man, judging from the height 

 of the river, deemed it practicable to shoot the rapid, 

 and determined upon trying it. He accordingly 

 placed himself in the bow of his canoe, having pre- 

 viously agreed, that if the passage was found easy, he 

 should, on reaching the bottom of tin 1 rapid, fire a 

 musket, as a Bignal for the other canoe to follow. 

 The rapid proved dangerous, and called forth all the 

 l of the guide, and the utmost exertion of his 



