UP-STREAM BY CANOE TO CHIPEWYAN 297 



crosswise on top of these, doubling up the dogs to a train 

 of eight. 



The rain was dropping steadily when, on the 4th, at 

 nine o'clock in the morning, I started across the lake to 

 the mouth of Buffalo River, and Gaudet, kind and consid- 

 erate to the last, went to see me off. The walking was 

 exceedingly disconcerting. The ice on the lake for the 

 greater part was under water, sometimes nearly up to my 

 waist, and a great deal of the time knee -deep, and I 

 could not know where the next step might land me. The 

 idea of stepping into a hole and going out of sight under 

 the ice was not entirely comforting. We finally, however, 

 reached the mouth of the river in safety, arid made ready 

 to start. 



My party consisted of a half-breed, an Indian, and 

 one of the French priests of the post, who was very de- 

 sirous of making the trip to Chipewyan, and perfectly 

 willing to do his share of work. I was very glad to have 

 a companion, to say nothing of an extra man to handle 

 the paddle, for the canoe was large and the current very 

 swift. It did not take long to stow our provisions of 

 dried caribou meat and tea, and by one o'clock we set 

 off. 



Buffalo River is a narrow stream, which at times widens 

 to possibly seventy-five yards, but as a rule is half that 

 width and in many places very much narrower. For the 

 most part its banks are low and lined with willows, backed 

 by smallish timber. It runs through the north end of 

 the bison country, and is said also to be rather a good 

 section for moose and bear. Other than some fresh bear 

 tracks we saw no signs, but we did see ducks in abun- 

 dance, and were fortunate enough to kill sufficient to 

 keep us fairly supplied. We also killed one or two 

 beavers, but their flesh is so rich that more than a couple 



