ARRIVAL AT THE COAST 71 



trip, we reached the vicinity of Peace River on the first of October. 

 "Quickening our pace to a gallop, and lost in admiration of the 

 landscape and the sudden transformation of the scene, we at 

 length came to a dead stop on the brink of the Great Peace River 

 Valley which now barred our progress westward. We had at last 

 reached the long-looked-for goal of our hopes and, resting our 

 nags for a little, we feasted our eyes on the glorious landscape 

 now mapped out before us. Throwing the reins over our horses' 

 necks we let them feed there a few minutes while awaiting the 

 arrival of the others, who, with the pack animals, were still a 

 mile or so behind. A strong westerly gale was blowing, but the 

 air was so warm and balmy that to recline on the beautiful grassy 

 sward full face to the blast was positively delicious. 



For several miles to the south-west, the noble river, flowing 

 eight hundred feet beneath us on its silent course to the Arctic 

 Ocean, could be distinctly traced as it meandered through its 

 mighty valley. Several large and wooded islands dotted its sur- 

 face here and there causing eddies and whirlpools, which, in their 

 turn, made long faint streaks of foam, barely visible in the dis- 

 tance. With the exception of these disturbing causes the bosom 

 of the mighty river looked perfectly unruffled at our high altitude 

 and failed to give any idea of the great velocity with which it 

 flowed." 



On the morning of October first, it was decided that Mr. 

 Horetzky should go right up to Dunvegan, fifty miles above, and 

 I would bring our baggage and the boat which the Hudson's Bay 

 Company sent down to take us up. This boat was one of the 

 large Hudson's Bay barges which were used at that time on all 

 the rivers to carry freight. It had a crew of six men and myself 

 and Armstrong. Our mode of progress was, by all the men, ex- 

 cept myself and the steersman, going ashore and hauling the boat 

 when the wide beach called a "Batture" was on our side of the 

 River. When the Batture was on the other side we crossed over 

 and took it. In going up the river I had nothing to do but make 

 observations and eat. This I did in a fashion altogether my own. 

 On the boat, the men got a bundle of dried meat and each man 

 turned over the lot and selected his own piece and so the selection 



