112 DOWN THE PEACE RIVER 



trip was going to be a pleasure excursion and that we should sail 

 down about 300 miles and return leisurely with the boats. 



On the evening of the second day, we reached Dunvegan, and 

 found the people at the post living on bear meat, so I charitably 

 gave them some of my flour, which Mr. King agreed to replace 

 when we met the boats. On the morning of the 5th, we left 

 Dunvegan and floated down the river. After passing Smoky 

 River, game became plentiful and black bears were very numerous 

 along the river margin, feeding on berries; while beaver, lynx 

 and geese were quite common. 



Later, we fell in with a camp of Indians who had a large 

 quantity of berries and these, to go with the flesh of a black bear, 

 constituted their sole diet. A dainty dish composed of berries 

 fried in bear's grease was served up but my appetite for such 

 food being very poor, I declined to partake of it. My flour did 

 duty again as, in a few days, we expected to meet the boats. 



We reached Battle River on the 8th and, it being Sunday, 

 we remained with Mr. Macaulay, the gentleman in charge of the 

 post, until next morning. We fared sumptuously on cabbage, 

 green peas, radishes, moose meat, bacon and flour, the latter 

 being taken from my stores, but this could not last, and, after 

 breakfast on Monday morning, we were again floating down the 

 river. 



We slept on a sand bar above Wolverine Point, and at dawn 

 on Tuesday, August 10th, were again at work paddling with all 

 our might until the afternoon, when, the wind blowing strong up 

 the river, our frail canoe was in danger of capsizing, and we were 

 compelled to keep close in shore to avoid the waves. 



I had learned by this time that my trip was to be one with 

 constant hard work and little opportunity to study the vegetation 

 along the river. 



On the 11th, we started early and toiled all day with the 

 paddle. The river, by this time, was very wide and the wind had 

 a great sweep and generally blew in our faces. Late in the even- 

 ing, when rounding a point, we saw buildings in the distance and 

 knew we were approaching Vermilion. The following is from my 

 diary : 



