230 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



miles in a straight line by land, but there was only a 

 road made for about 60 miles of that distance, the 

 unmade portion being laid out over most difficult 

 swamps. If, therefore, the troops could not advance 

 by that route, as was subsequently found to be the 

 case, the only other way of reaching Manitoba was 

 via the Winnipeg Biver, the navigation of which 

 was known to be so difficult and dangerous that 

 none but experienced guides ever attempt it. There 

 were about 30 portages to be got over in the 160 

 miles extra thus added to the total length of the 

 distance to be traversed. 



In 1869 about twenty miles of the Thunder Bay 

 road had been constructed ; during the winter of 

 1869-70 bridges were constructed over the two 

 largest rivers which crossed the line of road, and 

 in the following spring the road was pushed on still 

 farther some six or seven miles. 



When early in 1870 arrangements were being 

 made for the despatch of the Expedition, the Cana- 

 dian Ministers impressed upon the military authori- 

 ties responsible for its success that, by the time the 

 troops had been collected together on the shores of 

 Thunder Bay, the road from thence to Shebandowan 

 would be fit for traffic, and that good roads would 

 have been constructed over all the portages by the 

 Public Works Department. 



The country lying between Lake Superior and 

 Hed River was known to be a wilderness of poor 



