1906-7. TRANSACTIONS. 35 



heavily laden with the cargo from the steamer and about a week 

 was occupied in making the journey. Numerous small rapids were 

 encountered necessitating in some cases the unloading and reload- 

 ing of the boats. Limestone rock takes the place of sand-stone 

 along the banks, and in many cases the scenery is very picturesque. 

 There is a good covering of soil, but in many cases it is too light 

 for agricultural purposes. The timber is small and consists of 

 poplar, birch and spruce, but about one-half the area has been 

 recently burnt over. 



The weather at the time of my journey here, which was made 

 in the last week of June,was very hot, the mercury ranging between 

 85 and 90 degrees in the shade. 



A short distance above Fort McMurray, there was observed 

 what appeared the largest deposit of asphalt yet seen. It emitted 

 a very distinct odour. 



Fort McMurray, though not a post of very great importance 

 at present, has a history of considerable interest. It was here 

 that the weary traveller in the early days from far away Montreal, 

 figuratively speaking, threw down his pack and gave a sigh of 

 relief as he reached one of the great highways of the MacKenzie 

 basin, after a journey by bark canoe, through a wilderness for the 

 distance of 2,500 miles. 



It was the first of July, the natal day of the Dominion that 

 we arrived at Fort McMurray. 



Upwards of twenty large boats and scows, with boatmen and 

 passengers, numbering over a hundred in all, made a rather im- 

 posing appearance as we rowed and floated down the river on that 

 bright and exceedingly hot morning. Every craft had some kind 

 of a flag flying, in honor of the day, which made us feel that though 

 we were beyond the borders of civilization and within the great 

 North Wilderness, we were still in our own country and viewing 

 our own possessions. About noon, on rounding a point, where the 

 Clearwater joins the Athabaska, a welcome object met our sighi;, 

 the Steamer Grahame, tied to the bank at McMurray. 



We soon shook off the dust of travel and entered once more a 

 civilized state of existence The Grahame is a large commo- 

 dious boat, with comfortable state-rooms but the traveller is ex- 

 pected to furnish his own blankets. 



