84 JUUh'NAL A^W PROCEEDIXGS 



Prince Albert to Fort Churchill — Iiv Advance 

 of the Locomotive 



/. W. Tyrrell, C.E,, D.L.S. 



April 19, 1906. 



Tlie present article is intended to briefly depict some of the 

 points of interest noted upon a 2,000 mile boat jonrney recently 

 accomplished by the writer and three companions with the able 

 assistance of four native voyagers all equally and thoroughly at 

 home in the use of the paddle, the pole and the packstrap, each of 

 which in turn provided our means of locomotion, as did also our 

 " white wings" on several more happ}' occasions. 



Our point of embarkation was the beautifully situated town of 

 Prince Albert on the North Saskatchewan River, and our craft 

 were two Peterborough canoes of about one ton capacit}^ each, 

 which meant ample accommodation for our party, our supplies, 

 camp outfit and necessar)' baggage. The season was advanced to 

 the latter part of the month of June and the moon was at its full 

 and added to the glory of the night, though lacking in the luster 

 of the .southern skies because of the ahnost continuous light of the 

 northern midsummer sun. 



Thus with a native guide " Norman," a fine specimen of man- 

 hood, we launched upon the mighty Saskatchewan, and com- 

 menced the descent of the great and rapid but verj^ muddy river. 

 As we passed down, the banks were high and heavily wooded and 

 these characteristics continue for man}' miles, but towards Cum- 

 berland Lake a change was observed, the country becoming lower, 

 more swampy and devoid of the more valuable descriptions of tim- 

 ber. Ivarge areas were quite wet and covered only b}- grass, which 

 affords feed for great luimbeis of wild fowl, as well as deer and 

 other descriptions of game. Cumberland House, a trading post of 



