100 EXPLORATION TO THE PEACE RIVER 



interesting plants and had quite a pleasant day while Dr. Selwyn 

 attended to the geology. After a rapid descent, we reached the 

 lake and started for the camp, propelled by the wind, against the 

 bear skin, which one of the Indians held up to catch the fitful 

 breeze. It would have been less labour to paddle but that would 

 have been 'work.' Late in the evening, we reached camp and 

 were soon oblivious to mundane things." 



On the 22nd of June, we left Fort. St. James for McLeod's 

 Lake, and had much difficulty on our way, on account of the bad 

 trail through burnt forest. Some days we had to cut our way 

 for miles and made little progress. I quote the following from 

 my journal. 



"To-day, that is the 26th of June, I had a lonely tramp along 

 the shores of Carp and Long Lakes, to the discharge of the latter 

 lake. When a few miles on the way, a pelting rain came on and 

 continued without intermission the whole afternoon. I trudged 

 cheerfully on believing that I would meet Indians at the ford of 

 the river and get myself dry and warm. What was my chagrin 

 to find the Indians gone and their fire burning on the other side 

 of the rapid river. Without hesitation, I undressed and plunged 

 in, but the current was so strong and the water so deep my courage 

 failed and I returned to the bank. Shivering and cold, I contem- 

 plated the situation and at last determined to do or die and waded 

 across. Soon, I had a rousing fire and its genial warmth brought 

 back life and content to my frozen limbs." 



I was unaware of the depth of the river when I started in to 

 wade across. As the water was very clear, with a gravel bottom, 

 it seemed quite shallow, but, as I proceeded, the depths increased 

 and, on my second effort, I took a large pole that I found on the 

 shore and, with its support, I gained the other side in safety. Now, 

 I learned that there was a fall in the river of one hundred and 

 twenty feet only a couple of hundred yards below me, and, doubt- 

 less, if I had known this I would have lost my nerve and been 

 carried away in the swift water. Later, I found that the ford 

 was said to be four to five feet deep. The next day, we reached 

 Fort McLeod and I spent a few days collecting around the 

 country. 



