20 BOUNDARY OF THE WOODS. 



astray by any trifling difficulty in reconciling the sacred 

 text with scientific discoveries. 



A line drawn from the south-east corner of the Great 

 Bear Lake to the sixtieth degree of north latitude on 

 the shore of Hudson Bay, will form the north-eastern 

 and eastern boundaries of the woods. Towards Hud- 

 son Bay and the northern coasts from this line lie the 

 Barren Grounds. The principal river of this section is 

 the Great Fish River; also called the River Back, after a 

 gentleman of that name who explored its course about 

 the year 1834. But during this story we shall not be 

 concerned with these barren wildernesses. Let us, 

 therefore, turn to more attractive regions. 



The Mackenie River district is by far the richest in 

 furs of any in the Territory; and this is more espec- 

 ially the case with regard to the beaver. But although 

 large game is still abundant, in former times it was 

 much more so. Moose and cariboo, or the woodland rein- 

 deer, existed in extraordinary numbers ; but the slaugh- 

 ter necessary to supply the employe's of many forts as 

 well as the Indians has somewhat thinned their ranks. 

 Great numbers of these animals, however, still exist, 

 and afford sport and food to the wandering hunter. 



With this rough outline of the country and its pro- 

 ductions, let me introduce to my boy -reader some old 

 friends. 



