The Barren Lands. 205 



through the middle of the unexplored country, arriving at He a 

 la Crosse as the September equinoxials set in.having been absent 

 in the north three months, and having carried all the provisions 

 that we needed for the journey. 



During this season I learned, in talking with Chippewyans, 

 of three canoe-routes into the far northern country, followed by 

 the Indians in their search for deer, as these animals come from the 

 north down to the edge of the woods. These routes led across 

 the height of land to unkown rivers flowing towards the north, 

 but to what ocean the rivers flowed the Indians had no idea. 



These routes seemed to furnish a means of entrance into 

 the great unknown country, of 178,000 square miles, lying west 

 of Hudson Bay, an area as large as Vermont, New Yorkj 

 Pennsylvania, Ohio and Kentucky put together ; or three times 

 as large as England and Wales. This area includes 

 the south-eastern and eastern part of the barren lands of 

 Canada, an area of 350,000 square miles, of which almost the only 

 reliable information that we possessed was derived from the ex- 

 plorations of Franklin, Back and Richardson, made in the early 

 part of the present century. Throughout this whole region there is 

 not a single v/hite inhabitant, and the explorer must depend for 

 provisions solely on what he is able to carry with him, or on 

 his net and gun. 



This country lies entirely north of the possible limit of 

 successful agriculture, and if it possesses any considerable wealth 

 that wealth must be in its minerals. Consequently any explor- 

 ation that stands a chance of being of economic value must be 

 carried out by the geologist and the prospector. 



In the spring of 1893 I was instructed to explore this un- 

 known country, and the route northward from Black Lake on 

 Stone river was chosen as the one most likely to lead through 

 the very centre of the great unexplored area on the west side of 

 Hudson Bay. 



Descending Athabasca river, loaded with supplies for the 

 whole summer, we reached Fort Chippewyan about the i8th of 

 June, and on the 21st we left it with our three canoes loaded 

 down to the gunwales, for there was no prospect of again 



